This document discusses carbon nanotubes and their methods of synthesis. It begins by defining carbon nanotubes as sheets of graphite rolled into cylinders that can have single or multiple layers. It then discusses their extraordinary mechanical properties and classification based on chirality. Common synthesis methods are also summarized, including chemical vapor deposition, plasma enhanced CVD, arc discharge in a magnetic field, and laser ablation of metallic catalysts. Medical applications of carbon nanotubes are briefly mentioned at the end.

1. Carbon Nanotubes and Their Methods of Synthesis

3. Constructed from hexagonal rings of carbon

4. Can have one layer or multiple layers

7. Described as the vector R (n, m)

8. Armchair vector, R vector, angle Ø

9. Ø= 0º, armchair nanotube

10. 0º < Ø < 30º, chiralnanotube

13. Greater tendency to align into ordered bundles

15. Xylene/ferrocene (Andrews et al.)

16. Toluene, benzene, xylene, mesitylene, and n-hexane/ferrocene (Vivekchand et al.)

17. Ethylene and ethanol/Fe, Co, and Mo alloys

18. Typical Carrier Gases

19. Argon

22. Mixed with a metal catalyst and inert gas

23. Atomized and sprayed into reactor with temperatures ranging from 600ºC to 1200ºC

26. Heat of the reactor decomposes methane at the catalyst surface

27. Catalyst is at a slightly cooler temperature so carbon is supersaturated in the catalyst film so carbon precipitates out

29. ~70 A at ~18V dc is applied to the electrodes

30. Magnets are placed around electrodes which help align nanotubes during formation

32. A laser is used to vaporize a metal target (either Fe or Ni)

33. The post-flame exhaust gas is mixed with the metallic vapor and allowed to cool

35. DNA sequencing through AFM imaging

36. Nanoelectrodes for implantation

37. Lab on a chip

38. Artificial muscles

39. Vision chip for macular degeneration, retinal cell transplantation