Carbon Nanotubes

Launching a Revolution in Nanotechnology

Shavesha L. Anderson, NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, Code 562, Prepared 01/09/2003

• Introduction
• Significance
• Characteristics
• Synthesis
• Challenges
• Future Applications and Information
• Contact Information

Introduction

Carbon Nanotubes (CNTs) can be described as the material lying between fullerenes and graphite as a new member of Carbon allotropes. Discovered in 1991 by the Japanese electron microscopist Sumio Iijima, CNTs have drawn a lot of attention because of their unusual physical properties. They are made of a highly ordered sheet of carbon atoms rolled into a tube. They are known to have exceptional mechanical flexibility and strength

Significance

(under-construction)

Characteristics of Carbon Nanotubes

CNTs can exhibit electrical conductivity similar to that of copper, thermal conductivity as high as diamond and can exhibit mechanical strength greater than steel. Because carbon is the basis of most materials we use everyday, CNTs are expected to be easily manipulated using the versatile chemistry of carbon. They come in two forms Single Walled Carbon Nanotubes (SWCNT) and Multi-Walled Carbon Nanotubes (MWCNT). ;The SWCNTs have a tubular form with a diameter as small as 1 nm and a length a few nm to microns long. They are configurationally equivalent to a two dimensional graphene sheet rolled in a tube. CNTs can also be metallic or semi-conducting depending on the chirality.

(Compliments of: http://www.physik.uni-tuebingen.de/kern/sxm_files/res_sxm_ger.html)

Synthesis of CNT’s

HiPCo Process :

The High Pressure Carbon Monoxide process was developed at Rice University. During the process, catalyst particles enter the HiPCo reactor at room temperature and are then heated up to 1000⁰ C.

NASA GSFC Cooled Welding Method :

NASA is currently working on a patent for producing CNTs. This process does not use a catalyst, which are difficult to remove. This non-catalytic method of producing SWNTs is inexpensive, simple and energy efficient.

Comparing the two processes:

Challenges of CNT’s

Due to the difficulties of controlling the properties of CNTs it is challenging to properly characterize them. It is also challenging to disperse CNTs homogeneously in host materials, produce large scale production as well as control the diameter for application development.

Future Applications

Future applications of CNTs include but are not limited to the following:

• Molecule Manipulator and AFM Tips
• Nanowires, Switches
• Ropes
• Composites
• Drug Delivery
• Solar Sails
• Hydrogen Storage
• Micro machines
• Micro batteries

Current Research at NASA/GSFC

• WPI Report (under construction)
• TEM Raman on CNT's at GSFC (under construction)
• SEM on CNT's at GSFC (under construction)

Contact Information for Collaboration

The Inventor of this process is Dr. Jeannette Benavides under a grant from the Office of Technology Transfer. For licensing opportunities contact Dr. Benavides at 301-286-4368 or Darryl Mitchel at 301-286-5169

• Dr. Jeanette Benavides - Inventor, Jeannette.B.Benavides.2@gsfc.nasa.gov
• Harry Shaw - Assistant, Harry.C.Shaw@gsfc.nasa.gov
• Shavesha Anderson - Graduate Assistant, sanderso@pop500.gsfc.nasa.gov

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