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An Overview of the Recent Progress in the Synthesis and Applications of Carbon Nanotubes Journal of C Carbon Research Review An Overview of the Recent Progress in the Synthesis and Applications of Carbon Nanotubes Gul Rahman 1,* , Zainab Najaf 1, Asad Mehmood 2, Salma Bilal 3, Anwar ul Haq Ali Shah 1, Shabeer Ahmad Mian 4 and Ghulam Ali 5 1 Institute of Chemical Sciences, University of Peshawar, Peshawar 25120, Pakistan; [email protected] (Z.N.); [email protected] (A.u.H.A.S.) 2 Department of Energy and Materials Engineering, Dongguk University-Seoul, Seoul 04620, Korea; [email protected] 3 National Center of Excellence in Physical Chemistry, University of Peshawar, Peshawar 25120, Pakistan; [email protected] 4 Department of Physics, University of Peshawar, Peshawar 25120, Pakistan; [email protected] 5 Center for Energy Convergence Research, Korea Institute of Science and Technology (KIST), Hwarang-ro 14-gil 5, Seongbuk-gu, Seoul 02792, Korea; [email protected] * Correspondence: [email protected]; Tel.: +92-91-911-6652 Received: 13 October 2018; Accepted: 27 December 2018; Published: 3 January 2019 Abstract: Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) are known as nano-architectured allotropes of carbon, having graphene sheets that are wrapped forming a cylindrical shape. Rolling of graphene sheets in different ways makes CNTs either metals or narrow-band semiconductors. Over the years, researchers have devoted much attention to understanding the intriguing properties CNTs. They exhibit some unusual properties like a high degree of stiffness, a large length-to-diameter ratio, and exceptional resilience, and for this reason, they are used in a variety of applications. These properties can be manipulated by controlling the diameter, chirality, wall nature, and length of CNTs which are in turn, synthesis procedure-dependent. In this review article, various synthesis methods for the production of CNTs are thoroughly elaborated. Several characterization methods are also described in the paper. The applications of CNTs in various technologically important fields are discussed in detail. Finally, future prospects of CNTs are outlined in view of their commercial applications. Keywords: carbon nanotubes; synthesis routes; biomedical applications; energy storage and conversion; electronic devices 1. Introduction Carbon is an astonishing element, not only due to the reason that it is the element necessary for all life processes, but also because of the fact that it can occur in various allotropic forms [1]. Conventionally, carbon materials consist of graphite blocks, the category under which activated carbons, carbon blacks, and diamonds are present. The recently developed materials of carbon include nanotextured and nanosized carbons. Nanotextured carbons cover a large variety of carbon structures, from carbon fibers, pyrolytic carbons, or glass-like carbons, to diamond-like carbon materials. The nanosized carbons (or nanocarbons) comprise fullerenes, graphene and CNT [2]. Extraordinary importance is given to graphene and CNTs, as they play a vital role in current advances based on nanomaterials, including conductive and high-strength composites [3], artificial implants [4], drug delivery systems [5], sensors [6], energy conversion and storage devices [7], radiation sources [8] and field emission displays [9], hydrogen storage media [10] and nanometer-sized semiconductor devices [11], probes [12], and interconnects [13]. Radushkevish and Lukyanovich first detected and described CNTs in 1952 [14], and later, the SWCNTs were observed by Oberin C 2019, 5, 3; doi:10.3390/c5010003 www.mdpi.com/journal/carbon C 2019, 5, 3 2 of 31 CC 20192019,, 55,, xx FORFOR PEERPEER REVIEWREVIEW 22 ofof 3131 inbyby 1976 OberinOberin [15 inin]. 19761976 The [15]. discovery[15]. TheThe discoverydiscovery of CNTs ofof in CNTsCNTs recent inin history recentrecent history ishistory ascribed isis ascribedascribed to Iijima, toto Iijima,Iijima, who for whowho the forfor first thethe time, firstfirst describedtime,time, describeddescribed multi-walled multimulti‐‐walledwalled carbon carboncarbon nanotubes nanotubesnanotubes (MWCNTs) (MWCNTs)(MWCNTs) in carbon inin carboncarbon soot obtained sootsoot obtainedobtained during Cduringduring60 carbon CC6060 moleculecarboncarbon moleculemolecule fabrication fabricationfabrication in an arc inin evaporation anan arcarc evaporationevaporation test [16 ]. testtest CNT [16].[16]. is CNT aCNT beehive-shaped isis aa beehivebeehive‐‐shaped tube,shaped having tube,tube, uniquehavinghaving 2 1Duniqueunique nanostructures 1D1D nanostructuresnanostructures with carbon withwith carboncarbon atoms atomsatoms belonging belongingbelonging to sp totohybridization. spsp22 hybridization.hybridization. They TheyThey have havehave a thickness aa thicknessthickness of approximatelyofof approximatelyapproximately 1/50,000th 1/50,000th1/50,000th of human ofof humanhuman hair. hair. CNTshair. CNTsCNTs exist in existexist three inin unique threethree geometries,uniqueunique geometries,geometries, which are whichwhich armchair, areare zig-zag,armchair,armchair, and zigzig chiral‐‐zag,zag, andand (Figure chiralchiral1). (Figure(Figure The mechanical, 1).1). TheThe mechanical,mechanical, electrical, optical, electrical,electrical, and optical,optical, other propertiesandand otherother properties ofproperties CNTs are ofof determinedCNTsCNTs areare determineddetermined by the chirality. byby thethe It chirality.chirality. has been ItIt reported hashas beenbeen that reportedreported the electrical thatthat thethe properties electricalelectrical properties ofproperties CNTs are ofof influenced CNTsCNTs areare byinfluencedinfluenced the chiral byby vector thethe chiralchiral and corresponding vectorvector andand correspondingcorresponding pairs of integers pairspairs [17 ofof]. integersintegers Depending [17].[17]. on DependingDepending rolling up onon of therollingrolling graphene upup ofof sheets,thethe graphenegraphene CNTs can sheets,sheets, be either CNTsCNTs narrow-band cancan bebe eithereither semiconductors narrownarrow‐‐bandband orsemiconductorssemiconductors metals [18]. Thus, oror metalsmetals some nanotubes [18].[18]. Thus,Thus, behave somesome morenanotubesnanotubes like silicon, behavebehave while moremore others likelike silicon,silicon, show while higherwhile othersothers conductivities showshow higherhigher than conductivitiesconductivities that of copper. thanthan thatthat ofof copper.copper. FigureFigure 1. 1. GeometriesGeometries of of CNTs. CNTs. Reproduced Reproduced with with permission permission fromfrom [[19].[19].19]. Copyright Copyright Elsevier, Elsevier, 2016.2016. TakingTaking intointo accountaccount thethe numbernumber ofof layerslayers ofof CNTs, CNTs, theythey maymay bebe single-walledsinglesingle‐‐walledwalled carboncarbon nanotubes nanotubes (SWCNTs)(SWCNTs) ororor multi-walledmultimulti‐‐walledwalled carboncarbon nanotubesnanotubes (MCWNTs)(MCWNTs) (Figure(Figure(Figure2 2).2).). Most MostMost SWCNTs SWCNTsSWCNTs have havehave a aa diameter diameterdiameter extendingextending from from 0.4 0.4 to to >3 >3 nm, nm, whereaswhereas thethe lengthlength cancan extendextend toto aa fewfew millionsmillions timestimes thethe diameter.diameter. ConceptualizingConceptualizing the the wrapping wrapping of of a a layer layer of of graphene graphene into into the the shape shape of of a a tubetube givesgives thethe structurestructure ofof SWCNTs,SWCNTs, while whilewhile multiple multiplemultiple rolled rolledrolled layers layerslayers (concentric (concentric(concentric tubes) tubes)tubes) of graphene ofof graphenegraphene constitute constituteconstitute MWNTs. InMWNTs.MWNTs. MWCNTs, InIn theMWCNTs,MWCNTs, interlayer thethe space interlayerinterlayer is approximately spacespace isis approximatelyapproximately equal to the equalequal space toto betweenthethe spacespace the betweenbetween graphene thethe graphenegraphene sheets in graphite,sheetssheets inin whichgraphite,graphite, is 3.4 whichwhich Å. The isis 3.43.4 diameter Å.Å. TheThe rangesdiameterdiameter from rangesranges 1.4 to fromfrom at least 1.41.4 to 100to atat nm leastleast for 100100 MWCNTs nmnm forfor MWCNTsMWCNTs [20,21]. [20,21].[20,21]. FigureFigure 2.2. ((AA)) StructureStructure ofof SWCNT;SWCNT; (((BB))) MWCNT.MWCNT.MWCNT. Reproduced ReproducedReproduced withwithwith permissionpermissionpermission fromfromfrom [[22].[22].22]. CopyrightCopyright DOVEDOVE MedicalMedical Press,Press, 2016.2016. TableTable1 compares11 comparescompares the keythethe differenceskeykey differencesdifferences between betweenbetween the SWCNTs thethe andSWCNTsSWCNTs MWCNTs andand [ 23MWCNTsMWCNTs]. The morphologies [23].[23]. TheThe ofmorphologiesmorphologies CNTs affects ofof their CNTsCNTs optical affectsaffects properties, theirtheir opticaloptical thermo-physical properties,properties, characteristics, thermothermo‐‐physicalphysical and characteristics,characteristics, photo-thermal andand conversion photophoto‐‐ abilitiesthermalthermal [conversionconversion24]. abilitiesabilities [24].[24]. C 2019, 5, 3 3 of 31 Table 1. Comparison between SWCNTs and MWCNTs [23]. SWNT MWNT Single graphene layer Multiple graphene layers Synthesis requires catalyst No catalyst is required Difficult bulk synthesis due to the requirement of Easy bulk synthesis appropriate growth and atmospheric condition. Poor purity High purity Lesser defect chances but when this Greater chances of defects during functionalization occurs, it is hard to recover C 2019, 5, x FORAggregation PEER REVIEW in the body is less Aggregation in the body is greater3 of 31 Easy assessment and characterization
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