Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) are nanometer-scale tubular structures consisting entirely of carbon atoms (see Figure 1). They represent a newly discovered elemental form of carbon and have remarkable properties in terms of mechanical strength, thermal conductance and electrical conductivity. CNTs are the strongest materials ever discovered, with tensile strengths reported to be 50 times that of steel. They can also have conductivities 1,000 times that of copper.
Since their discovery, CNTs have been an intense focus area in nanotechnology research. Advancements in synthesis technologies have now allowed for the large-scale production of CNTs such that these materials are finding their way into commercial product applications.