Synthesis and manipulation of carbon nanotubes

Abstract

This paper reviews recent results in the field of carbon nanotube (CNT) research obtained at our institute at EPFL. We show in particular that CNTs can be synthesized by the catalytic vapour deposition (CVD) technique with high efficiency and purity. Furthermore, we present recent examples of advances in the large-scale production of CNTs as well as in the chemical and mechanical manipulation of CNTs. The chemical manipulation involves covalent and non-covalent sidewall functionalization of single-wall CNTs and preparation of inorganic coatings on CVD-grown nanotubes for the realization of fibres and CNT-reinforced composites. Mechanical manipulation aims at the application of CNTs as tips for scanning probe microscopy.