Proceedings of National Conference on Recent Advances in Electronics and Communication Engineering

(RACE-2014), 28-29 March 2014

1

Carbon Nanotubes
Himanshu Tyagi
1
, Diwakar Prasad
2
, Deepak Kumar
3
, Dr.Leena Arya
4
1234
Department of Electronics and Communication Engineering
123
Student
4
Associate Professor
1234
I.T.S. Engineering College
1
tyagi.himanshu065@gmail.com,
2
dew30feb@gmail.com,
3
deepak40892@gmail.com,
4
dr.leenaarya@its.edu.in

Abstract- Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) have attracted much attention by researchers worldwide in recent
years for their small dimensions and unique architecture, and for having immense. CNTs have been
employed in the development of molecular electronic, composite materials and others due to their unique
atomic structure, high surface area-to-volume ratio and excellent electronic, mechanical and thermal
properties. Recently they have been exploited as novel nanocarriers in drug delivery systems and biomedical
applications and also as sensors, actuators and composites. This present paper is a study on carbon
nanotubes.

Keywords NTS, CNTs, SWNTs, MWNTs.
I. INTRODUCTION
Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) are allotrope of carbon. CNTs are hexagonal arrangement of carbon-atoms. Their name is
derived from their size, since the diameter of a nanotube is on the order of a few nanometers (approximately 50,000
times smaller than the width of a human hair), while they can be up to several millimeters in length. CNTs length are
usually in the micrometre range[1]. CNTs are members of the fullerene structural family, which also includes
buckyballs. Whereas buckyballs are spherical in shape, a nanotube is cylindrical, with at least one end typically
capped with a hemisphere of the buckyball structure. They take the form of cylindrical carbon molecules and have
novel properties that make them potentially useful in a wide variety of applications in nanotechnology, electronics,
optics and other fields of materials science. CNTs Properties depends on the alignment of individual carbon atom.
They exhibit extraordinary strength and unique electrical properties, and are efficient conductors of heat. Inorganic
nanotubes have also been synthesized. In 1991,CNTs discovered in the soot of arc discharge at NEC, by Japanese
researcher Sumio Iijima[2]. There are two main types of nanotubes: single-walled nanotubes (SWNTs)[3][ 4] and
multi-walled nanotubes (MWNTs). CNTs have been used for energy storage via Li batteries and H-storage. CNTs
are superior nanomaterial for drug delivery. Literature reveals that CNTs are versatile carriers for controlled and
targeted drug delivery, especially for cancer cells, because of their cell membrane penetrability. Now a days CNTs
are also used in field emission in vacuum electronics, transistors and ultra-capacitors.
II. DISCOVERY
In 1952 Radushkevich and Lukyanovich[5] published a paper in the Soviet Journal of Physical Chemistry showing
hollow graphitic carbon fibers that are 50 nanometers in diameter. In 1979 John Abrahamson presented evidence of
carbon nanotubes at the 14th Biennial Conference of Carbon at Pennsylvania State University. 1981 A group of
Soviet scientists published the results of chemical and structural characterization of carbon nanoparticles produced
by a thermocatalytical disproportionation of carbon monoxide. 1991 Nanotubes discovered in the soot of arc
discharge at NEC, by Japanese researcher Sumio Iijima[2].
Proceedings of National Conference on Recent Advances in Electronics and Communication Engineering
(RACE-2014), 28-29 March 2014

2

III. SYNTHESIS
A. Arc Discharge

Fig 1. Schematic of a carbon arc discharge for the synthesis of nanoparticles
Small diameter, SWNT and MWNTs with few structural defects can be synthesized by this method. Carbon is
vaporized between two carbon electrodes using a Miller XTM 304 dc arc welder to maintain the optimal settings
between two horizontal electrodes in helium or argon atmospheres [6]. The voltage is controlled by an automatic
feedback loop that senses the voltage differences between the two electrodes and adjusts them accordingly. At 100
amps, carbon vaporizes in a hot plasma. Tubes tend to be short with random sizes and directions.
B. Laser Ablation

Fig 2. Schematic of a Laser Ablation for the synthesis of nanoparticles
Setup of laser vaporization method consists of three major parts- Laser, Optical Delay and Reactor. Blast graphite
with intense laser pulses are used rather than electricity to generate carbon gas from which the CNTs form. Optical
Delay is used to delay mostly the 1064nm when in use with another line. Various conditions are tried until hit on
one that produces prodigious amounts of SWNTs. Primarily SWNTs can be synthesized by this, with a large
diameter range that can be controlled by varying the reaction temperature.

C. Chemical Vapor Deposition
Proceedings of National Conference on Recent Advances in Electronics and Communication Engineering
(RACE-2014), 28-29 March 2014

3


Fig 3. Schematic of a Chemical Vapor Deposition for the synthesis of nanoparticles
Substrate is placed in oven, heat to 600 C, and slowly added a carbon-bearing gas such as methane. As gas
decomposes it frees up carbon atoms, which recombine in the form of NTs. It is the easiest way to scale to industrial
production. MWNTs with long length are usually synthesized by this method and often riddled with defects.
D. Ball Milling
Ball milling and subsequent annealing is a simple method for the production of CNTs. Although it is well
established that mechanical attrition of this type can lead to fully nano porous microstructures, it was not until a few
years ago that CNTs of carbon and boron nitride were produced from these powders by thermal annealing.
Essentially the method consists of placing graphite powder into a stainless steel container along with four hardened
steel balls. The container is purged, and argon is introduced. The milling is carried out at room temperature for up to
150 hours. Following milling, the powder is annealed under an inert gas flow at temperatures of 1400C for six
hours. The mechanism of this process is not known, but it is thought that the ball milling process forms nanotube
nuclei, and the annealing process activates nanotube growth. Research has shown that this method produces more
multi walled nanotubes and few single walled nanotubes [7].
E. Other Methods
CNTs can also be produced by diffusion flame synthesis, electrolysis, use of solar energy, heat treatment of a
polymer, and low-temperature solid pyrolysis. In flame synthesis, combustion of a portion of the hydrocarbon gas
provides the elevated temperature required, with the remaining fuel conveniently serving as the required
hydrocarbon reagent. Hence the flame constitutes an efficient source of both energy and hydrocarbon raw material.
Combustion synthesis has been shown to be scalable for high-volume commercial production [8].
IV. PROPERTIES
A. Electrical
The CNTs can carry the highest[9] current density of any known material, measured[10] as high as 109 A/cm
2
. They
have extremely low electrical resistance. Resistance occurs when an electron collides with some defect in the crystal
structure of the material through which it is passing. The defect could be an impurity atom, a defect in the crystal
structure, or an atom vibrating about its position in the crystal.

B. Mechanical
Proceedings of National Conference on Recent Advances in Electronics and Communication Engineering
(RACE-2014), 28-29 March 2014

4

The CNTs are expected to have high stiffness and axial strength. Efforts have been applied to the experimental[8]
and theoretical investigation of these properties. Nanotubes are the stiffest known fiber, with a measured Young's
modulus of 1.4 TPa. They have an expected elongation to failure of 20-30%.

C. Thermal
Prior to CNT, diamond was the best thermal conductor. CNTs have now been shown to have a thermal conductivity
at least twice that of diamond[10]. The specific heat and thermal conductivity of carbon nanotube systems are
determined primarily by phonons.

V. CONCLUSION & FUTURE WORK

CNTs have novel properties that make them both interesting as well as potentially useful in future technologies.
Significant improvement over current state of electronics can be achieved if controllable growth is achieved. There
are many ways to synthesis that depends on financial needs and amount of product desired. CNTs requires further
research for better understanding of surface chemistry, geometry and also for interaction of CNT with the immune
system in medical. Further research is required in SWNTs to reduced its price and also resistivity of its flims can be
improved so that they are better than equally transparent, optimally doped ITO coatings.
V. REFERENCE

[1] A. Merkoci, Biosensing Using Nanomaterials, ed. Wiley, New Jersey, 2009.
[2] S. Iijima,"Helical microtubules of graphitic carbon, Nature (London) 354 (1991) 56.
[3] S. Iijima, and T. Ichihashi, " Single-shell carbon nanotubes of 1-nm diameter", Nature (London), 363, 603-605, 1993.
[4] D.S. Bethune, C.H. Kiang, M.S. De Vries, G. Gorman, R. Savoy, J. Vazquez, and R. Beyers, Cobalt-catalysed growth of carbon
nanotubes with single-atomic-layer walls, Nature (London), 363, 605-607, 1993.
[5] L. V. Radushkevich , V. M. Lukyanovich and Zh. Fiz. Khim, On the sturucture of carbon, formed by the thermal decomposition of
carbon monoxide on iron surface,26, 8895, 1952.
[6] J. Mater. Chem, "Methods for carbon nanotubes synthesisreview, Vol. 21, pp-15872-15884, 2011.
[7] M. Wilson et al, Nanotechnology: Basic Science and Emerging Technologies, 2002.
[8] M. F. Yu, O. Lourie, M. J. Dyer, K. Moloni, T. F. Kelly and R. S. Ruoff, "Strength and breaking mechanism of multiwalled carbon
nanotubes under tensile load", Science, Vol. 287, 287, pp. 637-640, 2000.
[9] Sander J. Tans, Alwin R. M. Verschueren, Cees Dekker, "Room-temperature transistor based on a single carbon nanotube, Nature
393,49,1998.
[10] Rupesh Khare, Suryasarathi Bose, "Carbon Nanotube Based Composites- A Review, Vol. 4, No 1, pp-37, 2005.