Description
Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) are long molecular structures having exceptional
electronic, thermal, and mechanical properties. These properties, along with
application-oriented characteristics such as high surface area, diverse
capabilities for chemical modification and functionalization, and strong
interactions with polymers and composite host materials, are generating
widespread interest in CNTs for applications ranging from transistors and
memory devices, to large-scale aerospace structures.
This course will provide a broad introduction to the science, synthesis, and applications of CNTs. The major topics will be:
- The structure of CNTs in relation to other types of carbon fibers and
filaments, and a brief history of their development.
- A simple theoretical treatment of the fundamental properties of CNTs as
related to their atomic structure, and a review of experimental
characterization of these properties.
- Methods of CNT synthesis, particularly catalytic chemical vapor deposition
(CVD); methods of control of CNT diameter, alignment, and orientation by
selection of the process parameters and by use of external fields during growth.
- Post-growth processing and organization of CNTs: separation,
functionalization, sorting, printing, making electrical and thermal contact, etc.
- Emerging applications of CNTs in electronic devices, microsystems, and
radiation.
