Carbon nanotubes
Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) are allotropes of carbon having a cylindrical nanostructure.
Carbon Nanotubes are a tube-shaped material made up of carbon molecules, having a diameter of approximately a nanometer (one-billionth of a meter or one ten-thousandth of the thickness of a human hair). Carbon nanotubes has many different structures, depending on length, thickness and type of helicity (projection of the spin on direction of momentum), and number of layers.
All carbon nanotubes are made up of similar graphite sheet. However, the electrical characteristics of carbon nanotubes (acting as metals or semiconductor) depends on the structure they exhibit. Carbon nanotubes exhibit excellent mechanical strength, comparable to graphite. They can replace other materials in wide range of application such as; consumer goods, electrical and electronics, energy, healthcare, automobile, aerospace, and defense sectors. Other applications include;, conductive plastics, flat-panel displays, gas storage, batteries with improved lifetime, technical textiles, antifouling paint and micro- and nano-electronics.
Carbon nanotube materials can be categorised on the bases of structure and number of layers; single-wall nanotubes (SWNT) (having diameter close to 1nm), multi-wall nanotubes (MWNT) (diameter ranging between 5 nm to 50 nm) and double-wall nanotubes (DWNT) (sub-segment of multi-wall nanotubes). Multi-wall nanotube has the major market share in the global carbon nanotube market, followed by single-wall nanotubes.
[edit] Find out more
[edit] Related articles on Designing Buildings Wiki
Featured articles and news
Specifying rendered external wall insulation for fire safety
How to interrogate the evidence provided to the specifier.
The benefits of writing articles for your organisation
How to create a profile for your organisation and publish for free.
No Falls Week. The importance of safe working at height
What to expect and what is on offer to avoid accidents.
Scottish Government action to reach net-zero targets
Retrofit expert group highlight critical actions needed.
A forward thinking, inclusive global community of members.
From engineered product life-spans, to their extension.
Circular economy in the built environment
A brief description from 2021. Where are we now?
Mental Health Awareness Week with ABS
Architects Benevolent Society programme of activity.
CLC publishes domestic retrofit competency framework
Roadmap of Skills for net zero.
May 13-19: Moving more for our mental health.
Understanding is key to conservation.
Open industry engagement survey seeks responses
Institutions and the importance of engagement.
National Retrofit Hub unveils new guide
Digital Building Logbooks and Retrofit: An Introduction.
Enhancing construction site reporting efficiency
Through digitisation and the digital revolution.