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Journal ArticleDOI

Carbon Nanotubes--the Route Toward Applications

02 Aug 2002-Science (American Association for the Advancement of Science)-Vol. 297, Iss: 5582, pp 787-792
TL;DR: Many potential applications have been proposed for carbon nanotubes, including conductive and high-strength composites; energy storage and energy conversion devices; sensors; field emission displays and radiation sources; hydrogen storage media; and nanometer-sized semiconductor devices, probes, and interconnects.
Abstract: Many potential applications have been proposed for carbon nanotubes, including conductive and high-strength composites; energy storage and energy conversion devices; sensors; field emission displays and radiation sources; hydrogen storage media; and nanometer-sized semiconductor devices, probes, and interconnects. Some of these applications are now realized in products. Others are demonstrated in early to advanced devices, and one, hydrogen storage, is clouded by controversy. Nanotube cost, polydispersity in nanotube type, and limitations in processing and assembly methods are important barriers for some applications of single-walled nanotubes.
Citations
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Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: The present method showed high reproducibility for the fabrication of carbon-nanotubes-based amperometric biosensors and showed some striking features such as the adsorbed form of GOx on individual MWCNT, uniformity, good stability, and electrocatalytic activity toward oxygen reduction.

204 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
01 Mar 2006-Small
TL;DR: Photoluminescence measurements show that by changing the pH value, a reversible conversion of the highly dispersed state to the aggregated state could be observed and some lysozyme molecules were irreversibly bound to the nanotubes, which is possibly due to pi-pi or hydrophobic interactions.
Abstract: Highly dispersed and debundled carbon nanotubes were prepared in an aqueous solution of lysozyme using a combination of ultrasonication and ultracentrifugation. The product is a pH-sensitive dispersion, which remains in a highly dispersed state at pH 11, but in an aggregated state at pH 8-11. Photoluminescence measurements show that by changing the pH value, a reversible conversion of the highly dispersed state to the aggregated state (or vice versa) could be observed. Circular dichromism analysis confirmed that the secondary structure, as well as the majority of the tertiary structure, remains intact. Some lysozyme molecules were irreversibly bound to the nanotubes, which is possibly due to pi-pi or hydrophobic interactions. However, these interactions alone are not enough to produce fine dispersions of the nanotubes. Protonated amine interactions on the defect sites of the nanotubes play a vital role in the stabilization of the nanotubes below the isoelectric point and amine adsorption on the sidewalls of nanotubes occurs in cases where the pH value is higher than the isoelectric point.

204 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this article, functional hybrid materials based on carbon nanotubes (CNTs) and metal oxides are discussed, which significantly promote the dispersion of oxides with strong interaction.
Abstract: In this article, we discuss functional hybrid materials based on carbon nanotubes (CNTs) and metal oxides. The unique geometric nanostructure and electrical properties of CNTs significantly promote the dispersion of oxides with strong interaction. The improvement effect of CNTs on the performance of hybrid materials for supercapacitors, lithium ion batteries, electroanalysis and photocatalysis is addressed. The applications of CNT-oxide hybrid materials for solar cell and gas sensors are briefly introduced. The prospects and challenges for material science are also discussed.

204 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this article, the microstructure of nano-composites and the interface between aluminum matrix and MWCNTs were examined using optical microscopy and transmission electron microscopy (TEM).

203 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors discuss some recent progress in the research on nanocarbon-based electronic gas sensors, including carbon nanotubes (CNTs), graphene, and their composites (i.e., nanocarbons and nanocrystal hybrids), identify the technological barriers that impair their commercialization, and present an outlook of the challenges and opportunities for the use of carbon-based materials in next generation gas sensors.
Abstract: Novel materials based on nanocarbons (e.g., carbon nanotubes (CNTs) and graphene) have attracted much attention as sensing elements in miniaturized, low-power consumption, and ubiquitous electronic gas sensors due to their unique structural and electronic properties. This highlight discusses some recent progress in the research on nanocarbon-based electronic gas sensors, including CNTs, graphene, and their composites (i.e., nanocarbon–nanocrystal hybrids), identifies the technological barriers that impair their commercialization, and presents an outlook of the challenges and opportunities for the use of nanocarbon-based materials in next generation gas sensors.

203 citations

References
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Journal ArticleDOI
28 Jan 2000-Science
TL;DR: The nanotubes sensors exhibit a fast response and a substantially higher sensitivity than that of existing solid-state sensors at room temperature and the mechanisms of molecular sensing with nanotube molecular wires are investigated.
Abstract: Chemical sensors based on individual single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWNTs) are demonstrated. Upon exposure to gaseous molecules such as NO 2 or NH 3 , the electrical resistance of a semiconducting SWNT is found to dramatically increase or decrease. This serves as the basis for nanotube molecular sensors. The nanotube sensors exhibit a fast response and a substantially higher sensitivity than that of existing solid-state sensors at room temperature. Sensor reversibility is achieved by slow recovery under ambient conditions or by heating to high temperatures. The interactions between molecular species and SWNTs and the mechanisms of molecular sensing with nanotube molecular wires are investigated.

5,908 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
01 May 1998-Nature
TL;DR: In this paper, the fabrication of a three-terminal switching device at the level of a single molecule represents an important step towards molecular electronics and has attracted much interest, particularly because it could lead to new miniaturization strategies in the electronics and computer industry.
Abstract: The use of individual molecules as functional electronic devices was first proposed in the 1970s (ref 1) Since then, molecular electronics2,3 has attracted much interest, particularly because it could lead to conceptually new miniaturization strategies in the electronics and computer industry The realization of single-molecule devices has remained challenging, largely owing to difficulties in achieving electrical contact to individual molecules Recent advances in nanotechnology, however, have resulted in electrical measurements on single molecules4,5,6,7 Here we report the fabrication of a field-effect transistor—a three-terminal switching device—that consists of one semiconducting8,9,10 single-wall carbon nanotube11,12 connected to two metal electrodes By applying a voltage to a gate electrode, the nanotube can be switched from a conducting to an insulating state We have previously reported5 similar behaviour for a metallic single-wall carbon nanotube operated at extremely low temperatures The present device, in contrast, operates at room temperature, thereby meeting an important requirement for potential practical applications Electrical measurements on the nanotube transistor indicate that its operation characteristics can be qualitatively described by the semiclassical band-bending models currently used for traditional semiconductor devices The fabrication of the three-terminal switching device at the level of a single molecule represents an important step towards molecular electronics

5,258 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
26 Jul 1996-Science
TL;DR: X-ray diffraction and electron microscopy showed that fullerene single-wall nanotubes (SWNTs) are nearly uniform in diameter and that they self-organize into “ropes,” which consist of 100 to 500 SWNTs in a two-dimensional triangular lattice with a lattice constant of 17 angstroms.
Abstract: The major part of this chapter has already appeared in [1], but because of the length restrictions (in Science), the discussion on why we think this form is given in only brief detail. This chapter goes into more depth to try to answer the questions of why the fullerenes form themselves. This is another example of the very special behavior of carbon. From a chemist’s standpoint, it is carbon’s ability to form multiple bonds that allows it to make these low dimensional forms rather than to produce tetrahedral forms. Carbon can readily accomplish this and it is in the mathematics and physics of the way this universe was put together, that carbon is given this property. One of the consequences of this property is that, if left to its own devices as carbon condenses from the vapor and if the temperature range is just right, above 1000°C, but lower than 1400°C, there is an efficient self-assembly process whose endpoint is C60.

5,215 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
26 Sep 1997-Science
TL;DR: In this paper, the Young's modulus, strength, and toughness of nanostructures are evaluated using an atomic force microscopy (AFM) approach. And the results showed that the strength of the SiC NRs were substantially greater than those found previously for larger SiC structures, and they approach theoretical values.
Abstract: The Young's modulus, strength, and toughness of nanostructures are important to proposed applications ranging from nanocomposites to probe microscopy, yet there is little direct knowledge of these key mechanical properties. Atomic force microscopy was used to determine the mechanical properties of individual, structurally isolated silicon carbide (SiC) nanorods (NRs) and multiwall carbon nanotubes (MWNTs) that were pinned at one end to molybdenum disulfide surfaces. The bending force was measured versus displacement along the unpinned lengths. The MWNTs were about two times as stiff as the SiC NRs. Continued bending of the SiC NRs ultimately led to fracture, whereas the MWNTs exhibited an interesting elastic buckling process. The strengths of the SiC NRs were substantially greater than those found previously for larger SiC structures, and they approach theoretical values. Because of buckling, the ultimate strengths of the stiffer MWNTs were less than those of the SiC NRs, although the MWNTs represent a uniquely tough, energy-absorbing material.

4,627 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: The thermal conductivity and thermoelectric power of a single carbon nanotube were measured using a microfabricated suspended device and shows linear temperature dependence with a value of 80 microV/K at room temperature.
Abstract: The thermal conductivity and thermoelectric power of a single carbon nanotube were measured using a microfabricated suspended device. The observed thermal conductivity is more than 3000 W/K m at room temperature, which is 2 orders of magnitude higher than the estimation from previous experiments that used macroscopic mat samples. The temperature dependence of the thermal conductivity of nanotubes exhibits a peak at 320 K due to the onset of umklapp phonon scattering. The measured thermoelectric power shows linear temperature dependence with a value of 80 microV/K at room temperature.

3,166 citations