Power generation using Carbon Nanotubes

By Aekansh jain

What are Carbon Nanotubes ?

Carbon nanotubes are fullerene-related structures which consist of graphene cylinders closed at either end with caps containing pentagonal rings

Discovery
They were discovered in 1991 by the Japanese electron microscopist Sumio Iijima who was studying the material deposited on the cathode during the arc-evaporation synthesis of fullerenes. He found that the central core of the cathodic deposit contained a variety of closed graphitic structures including nanoparticles and nanotubes, of a type which had never previously been observed.

Carbon Nanotubes:
This is a nanoscopic structure made of carbon atoms in the shape of a hollow cylinder. The cylinders are typically closed at their ends by semi-fullerene-like structures. There are three types of carbon nanotubes: armchair, zig-zag and Chiral (helical) nanotubes. These differ in their symmetry. Namely, the carbon nanotubes can be thought of as graphene planes 'rolled up' in a cylinder (the closing ends of carbon nanotubes cannot be obtained in this way). Depending on how the graphene plane is 'cut' before rolled up, the three types of carbon nanotubes are obtained. Within a particular type, carbon nanotubes with many different radii can be found (depending on how large is the graphene area that is folded onto a cylinder). These tubes can be extremely long (several hundreds of nanometers and more). Some consider them as special cases of fullerenes. When produced in materials, carbon nanotubes pack either in bundles (one next to another within a triangular lattice) single-walled carbon nanotubes, or one of smaller radius inside others of larger radii - multi-walled carbon nanotubes. Carbon nanotubes have already found several technological applications, including their application in high-field emission displays. Carbon nanotubes were discovered by Sumio Ijima in 1991.

The way to find out how the carbon atoms are arranged in a molecule can be done by joining the vector coordinates of the atoms. By this way it can be identified whether if the carbon atoms are arranged in a zig-zag, armchair or in a helical shape.

Nanotubes are formed by rolling up a graphene sheet into a cylinder and capping each end with half of a fullerene molecule. Shown here is a (5, 5) armchair nanotube (top), a (9, 0) zigzag nanotube (middle) and a (10, 5) chiral nanotube. The diameter of the nanotubes depends on the values of n and m.

Arc discharge method

Connect two graphite rods to a power supply, place them millimeters apart, and throw switch. At 100 amps, carbon vaporizes in a hot plasma.

Chemical vapor deposition

Place substrate in oven, heat to 600 C, and slowly add a carbon-bearing gas such as methane. As gas decomposes it frees up carbon atoms, which recombine in the form of NTs

Laser ablation (vaporization)

Blast graphite with intense laser pulses; use the laser pulses rather than electricity to generate carbon gas from which the NTs form; try various conditions until hit on one that produces prodigious amounts of SWNTs Primarily SWNTs, with a large diameter range that can be controlled by varying the reaction temperature By far the most costly, because requires expensive lasers

Can produce SWNT and MWNTs with few structural defects

Easiest to scale to industrial production; long length

Tubes tend to be short with random sizes and directions

NTs are usually MWNTs and often riddled with defects

Carbon nanotube properties: Electronic

Electronic band structure is determined by symmetry: n=m: Metal n-m=3j (j non-zero integer): Tiny band-gap semiconductor Else: Large band-gap semiconductor.

Band-gap is determined by the diameter of the tube: For tiny band-gap tube: For large band-gap tube:
Eg 1 / R 2 Eg 1 / R

Carbon nanotube properties: Mechanical

Carbon-carbon bonds are one of the strongest bond in nature Carbon nanotube is composed of perfect arrangement of these bonds Extremely high Youngs modulus

Material Steel SWNT Diamond

Youngs modulus (GPa) 190-210 1,000+ 1,050-1,200

CARBON NANOTUBES PROPERTIES: KINETIC

Multi-walled nanotubes are multiple concentric nanotubes precisely nested within one another. These exhibit a striking telescoping property whereby an inner nanotube core may slide, almost without friction, within its outer nanotube shell, thus creating an atomically perfect linear or rotational bearing. This property has been utilized to create the world's smallest rotational motor. Future applications such as a gigahertz mechanical oscillator are also envisaged.

Some applications of Carbon Nanotubes include the following Nanotube actuator Micro-electronics /
semiconductors Conducting Composites Controlled Drug Delivery/release Artificial muscles Super capacitors Batteries Field emission flat panel displays Field Effect transistors and Single electron transistors Nano lithography Nano electronics Doping Nano balance Nano tweezers Data storage Magnetic nanotube Nanogear

Molecular Quantum wires Hydrogen Storage Noble radioactive gas storage Solar storage Waste recycling Electromagnetic shielding Dialysis Filters Thermal protection Nanotube reinforced composites Reinforcement of armour and other materials Reinforcement of polymer Avionics Collision-protection materials Fly wheels"

POWER GENERATION USING CARBON NANOTUBES

Nanotubes as solar cells

CNT can be used for both as an electron acceptor material and a transparent electrode in photo voltaic devices. It can be used in solar cell due to its delocalized pi electron system. Dye-sensitized solar cells comprises a porous layer of TiO2 nanoparticle in organic dye. The electrode used in dye-sensitized solar cell is thin film of carbon nanotubes. One major problem due to loss of electron by dye is cured by putting TiO2 thin film between CNT & porous layer. The solar conversion efficiency is only 1.8% which is lower than conventional.

Nanotubes as capacitors
Super capacitors have high capacitance comprised of two electrodes separated by an insulated material that is ionically conducting. As the capacity depends on separation between the charge on electrodes & counter charge in electrolyte CNT is favourable because of its nanometer separation & high nanotube surface area for electrolyte. The basic mechanism of rechargeable lithium batteries is electrochemical intercalation and deintercalation between working electrodes. Replacement through CNTs can give high energy capacity, fast charging time & long cycle time. Higher lithium capacity may be obtained in CNTs if all interstitial sites are accessible for lithium intercalation .

Nanotubes as a chemical fuel

When a thermal wave travels through a wire made of CNTs , it creates an electric current.

METHOD : Initially the nanotubes are coated with a layer of reactive fuel. When this fuel is ignited a thermal wave travelling fast like a flame is been generated . This produces heat and this produced heat pushes electrons & so creates an electric current . They have a wide scope in ultra small electronic devices or in environmental sensors etc.

FUTURE TRENDS
The remarkable physical & electronic properties of carbon nanotubes make their material excellent candidates for a wide range of applications. In power applications Energy production & storage Hydrogen storage at room temperature In development of MIRACLE WIRE- a weave of metallic nanotubes that promises to carry electricity with negligible loss over long distance. In other applications Development of reinforced composites. Use of single MWNT attached to the end of a scanning probe microscope for high resolution imaging.

CONCLUSION
This review has described several possible applications of carbon nanotubes with emphasis on material science based applications. The overwhelming message we would like to convey that the unique structure ,topology and dimensions of carbon nanotubes have created a superb carbon material which can be considered as most perfect fibers that has ever been fabricated.