Nanotubes

What is a nanotube?

Nanotube could be defined as a kind of tiny tube dimensions, usually formed by a sheet of graphite rolled up, so it also tends to acquire the name of carbon nanotube, but can also be used for construction materials such as silicon boro.Estos nitride or carbon nanotubes have allotropic form, depending on the degree of curl of the same, acquire different diameters and structures subjected to numerous studies internas.Están because by its nature, is able to sustain their own weight suspended on our planet, and for this reason, it is felt that could be used in the construction of a space elevator, which would represent a technological breakthrough.

History: Although human beings throughout history has made use of nanotubes with high frequency, was not aware of many of their applications until recently, specifically in 1991, which became world famous and began their investigations alrededor.La first time we can meet nanotubes throughout history, we must go back to 1889, when Hughes and Chambers decided to patent a process for the manufacture of carbon filaments, using hydrogen and methane as precursor gases, in a crucible of hierro.Casi seventy years later, in 1952, two Russian scientists Radushkevich and Lukyanovich, did a wonderful job taking pictures of 50 nanotubes, but his work became important because of the war fría.Posteriormente, individual papers were published on these strange tubes, not taking reference from former employers realizados.En 1985, are discovered, the first cousin of the nanotubes, fullerenes, instead of having a tube, have it sphere, was a serendipitous discovery, which awarded the Nobel Prize in 1996 to its discoverers.

Now finally in 1991, nanotubes are discovered while investigating the fullerenes, and since then have conducted research that could bring a breakthrough in technology and quality of human life.

Classes of nanotubes: Coat (Single-Walled Nanotubes): As the name already indicates, these are single-layer nanotubes, and they have certain electrical properties not shared by his brothers nanotubes, and so can be used to the creation of TRT (transistors) and logic gates (they are basically different circuits consist of transistors). multilayer (Multi-Walled Natotubes): They are formed by several layers of nanotubes arranged like the famous Russian dolls (one above the other) or as a rolled up newspaper. They are more complex than anteriores.Bicapa (Double-Walled Nanotubes): Formed by two layers, they share similar characteristics to those of the monolayer or SWN.

What applications do you have? The nanotubes have many applications and most seem like science fiction, are capable of transforming solar energy into electricity (solar panels) can be used as supercapacitors, without forgetting that your giving may be a giant step technology in our computers, serving as transistors, tiny pieces that are the reason why they are not great rooms with great energy demand eléctrica.Además has other applications, but are so diverse that it would be impossible to name them all.