Nanotube Applications
SWCNTs are 100 times stronger than steel at one-sixth its weight. This makes them potentially highly valued as a means to strengthen composite materials. They also can be either very effective electrical conductors or semiconductors. Potential applications of nanotubes can be divided as follows:
▲ Actuators Conversion of electrical energy to mechanical energy and vice versa. Potential use in robotics, optical fiber switches and displays, prosthetic devices, etc.
▲ Sensors Correlations between adsorption of gases such as oxygen and conductance and thermoelectric power have been observed.
▲ Composites, Paints & Coatings Employing nanotubes as additive to polymer composites can give improved strength performance, thermal and electric conductivity. The challenge of anchoring nanotubes to polymeric structures has been addressed by functionalizing nanotube walls.
▲Biological Due to their physical dimensions similar to that of biologically active macromolecules such as proteins, and DNA, carbon nanotubes are finding increasing utility in biology related applications including sensors, drug delivery, enzyme immobilization, cancer research and DNA transfection.
▲ Electronics Depending on structural characteristics, carbon nanotubes are conducting or semi-conducting. Sizes of transistors and logic devices can be reduced significantly, e.g., logic devices made of a single nanotube with a transition between chiralities along its length. Others include: highly-ordered carbon nanotube arrays for data storage, displays, sensors & smaller computing devices. As SWCNTs can be clear, they open up the door for clear conducting polymers, and a replacement for Indium-Tin-Oxide.
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