What Are Single Walled Carbon Nanotubes?

SWCNT or single walled carbon nanotubes is an allotrope of carbon that is made out of graphite. This structure is recognized for its amazing thermal, kinetic, optical and electrical properties. This article will deal with the nature of this allotrope and what makes it the best for every industry.

Nanotube is an amazing nano product harnessed with the help of nanotechnology. Just as the name suggests, these structure are in tube form, elongated in a cylindrical manner. Their diameter to length ratio can range from 1: 132,000,000.

Carbon nanotubes are something that has grabbed the attention of researchers from quite a long time. Because nanotubes have many unusual properties that can revolutionize the world of material science. From amazing thermal conductivity, to astounding electrical and mechanical properties these nanotubes have it all.

Know More about Single Walled Carbon Nanotubes

SWCNT are carbon structured arranged in a cylindrical manner. They mainly hold capped ends and are even surrounded by a single wall, which is even cylindrical in nature. The structure is said to be a thin layer of graphite which is as thick as a single atom and is thus called as graphene.

This thin film is rolled to form a structure what is better known as the single walled carbon nanotubes. The diameter of these nanotubes is about 1nm-50nm depending upon the nature of the nanotube. This is the reason why the tube length can be longer and thus get elongated by adding chains of graphene to the capped ends.

The single walled nanotubes of carbon are held together by crystal lattice and thus the ultimate structure appears something that can be compared to a honeycomb. The so called structure is formed because graphene in SWCNT is always present in a zigzag manner, thus when rolled to form the tube these nanoatoms tend to appear in the form of a beautiful structure that is scientifically known as the chiral.

What Are Its Possible Applications?

SWCNT are gifted with many amazing properties, and thus they have found their usage in a wide range of sectors. The common applications are

Biomolecules: There are many people who buy single walled carbon nanotubes to explore how it improves the field of chemistry. These nanotubes bring reproducibility and stability to functionalized protein enzymes, synthesizing DNA for better fabrication.

Electronics: High purity SW carbon nanotubes are widely used in the field of electronics as semiconductors, enhancing their productivity and efficiency.

Sensors: The apt structure, mechanical property and productivity make them the best match for nano sensors that are nothing but mechanical sensors used for several operations. Majority of these sensors are used in detecting harmful gases that might cause pollution, diagnostic purposes carrying out blood borne tests, monitor essential parameters like flow, displacement and temperature, and as accelerometers of MEMS devices.

The list is almost endless! There are many applications of these nanotubes that have been discovered till date and in near future there will be many more to come.

I am Gautam Sakpal, writer and nanotechnology lover, who researches about the various aspects of single walled carbon nanotubes and what makes them so extraordinary.