What are carbon nanotubes? Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) are tubular cylinders of carbon atoms that have incredible mechanical, electrical, thermal, optical and chemical properties. They are stronger than any other material yet known to science. Nanotubes are only about four nanometers wide, ten thousand times thinner than a human hair. They have a pattern like rolled up chicken wire or a tube of hexagons. CNTs also are super strong yet elastic and, depending on how the atoms are arranged, they can be either insulators or conductors.
What is so special about carbon nanotubes? Carbon nanotubes are seven times lighter and two hundred times stronger than steel, making them the strongest material yet known to science. That alone is amazing, but the list keeps going. They are capable of one thousand times the current capacity, they are five times more electrically conductive, and are fifteen times more thermally conductive than copper. CNTs can also be used to store gases and for dissipating heat. They can be up to several millimeters long with a length to width ratio of 132,000,000:1, much more than any other material. They can be used as building materials, electrical wires. Having CNTs in other materials could make the materials stronger, lighter and even conductive. This could allow new for new inventions using the better materials and for scientist to create things that otherwise wouldn't be possible. Carbon nanotubes can be created and treated in different ways giving varying properties. This allows for choosing things like whether or not the CNTs are conductive, flexible and many other properties of the nanotubes. Another fascinating thing about carbon nanotubes is that they can be single or multi walled each with its own properties. With all of this variety carbon nanotubes could be used for many things.