Nanotubes and graphene

Nanocarbon structures such as fullerenes, carbon nanotubes and graphene, are characterized by their weak interphase interaction with host matrices (polymer, ceramic, metals) when fabricating composites [99,100]. In addition to their characteristic high surface area and high chemical inertness, this fact turns these carbon nanostructures into materials that are very difficult to disperse in a given matrix. However, uniform dispersion and improved nanotube/matrix interactions are necessary to increase the mechanical, physical and chemical properties as well as biocompatibility of the composites [101,102]. 

Itami, K., Toward controlled synthesis of carbon nanotubes and graphenes. Pure and Appl. Chem. 2012,84 90Z-916. 

Fullerenes, Carbon Nanotubes, and Graphene for Molecular Electronics... 

The purpose of this review is to present recent developments on the utilization of fullerenes, carbon nanotubes, and graphene in molecular electronics. 

O. Wessely et al., Dynamical core-hole screening in the x-ray absorption spectra of hydrogenated carbon nanotubes and graphene. Phys. Rev. B 76, 161402 (2007)... 

Dresselhaus MS, Jorio A, Hofmann M, Dresselhaus G, Saito R (2010) Perspectives on carbon nanotubes and graphene Raman spectroscopy. Nano Lett 10 751-758... 

The unique combination of rich molecular information (physical and chemical), high spatial resolution, nondestructive nature, and simplicity makes pRS an extremely valuable tool for characterization of nanostructures. As illustrated by numerous examples in this chapter, pRS has been applied to a wide variety of nanostructures. For instance, pRS has emerged to be an indispensible tool in the characterization of low-dimensional carbon nanostructures such as carbon nanotubes and graphene. There are only few recent reports in the literature where pRS has been applied to individual inorganic nanostructures such as ZnO, GaN nanowires to probe the crystalline orientation of the nanostructures in a nondestructive and in-device state. We believe that the application of pRS technique is still in its infancy especially in the context of characterizing individual nanostructures. 

Coleman JN (2009) Liquid-phase exfoliation of nanotubes and graphene. Adv Funct Mater 19 3680-3695... 

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