Introduction
Since their development, nanotubes have found wide application especially in the electronics industry. Generally, there is no specific definition of a nanotube but we can refer it, as a nanometer-scale tube-like structure, which is extremely tiny. There are two major categories of nanotubes: single-walled nanotubes and multi-walled nanotubes. The single-walled nanotubes are mainly of carbon, while the multi-walled nanotubes can be of either graphite or carbon.
Properties of nanotubes
Whichever the material, the properties of nanotubes make them multifarious. For instance, researchers have found out that carbon nanotubes have a high strength to weight ratio thus, good raw materials for lightweight aircraft. Additionally, nanotubes have the ability to go through membranes for example, cell walls. Amazingly, nanotubes take a long, narrow and needle-like shape; hence, they can perform the roles of a needle at the cellular level. The varying electrical resistance of carbon nanotubes is also a significant property—especially when other molecules collide with carbon atoms. This property has enabled research institutions to come up with sensors, which can detect carbon monoxide and other biological molecules (Pumera 4970).
Applications of nanotubes
From the above properties, it is evident that carbon nanotubes have a wide application. On of the natural sources of nanotubes are chickens. The antibodies of chickens are full of nanotubes that are significant in the medical world, that is, they can raze breast cancer tumors. Once ingested, the proteins emanating from the breast cancer cell pulls the antibody together with the nanotubes. Next, the nanotubes have the capacity to absorb light produced by the infrared laser, and then cremate the tumors already fixed to the nanotubes. Another application of the nanotubes is the manufacture of windmill blades.
From the properties of nanotubes, they have high strength to weight ratio. Normally, engineers will fill the nanotubes with epoxy to make them long and strong in order to raise the quantity of power created by a single windmill. In the aircraft manufacturing industry, engineers have found carbon nanotubes one of the best materials for building body parts due to its strength and flexibility.
Nanotubes are very common in the electronic industry for making transistors. Today, we have nanotube integrated memory circuit though with some minor challenges such as conductivity. Under subtle surfaces, the nanotube can behave as a conductor or as a semiconductor (advantage) as non-semiconductor nanotubes affect the conductivity of the circuit. Still under electronic circuits, nanotubes are integral in the thermal management of electronic circuits.
Among the properties of the nanotube that help in thermal management include low density and weight, which cools circuits and prevents them from burning up. In some cases, scientists have managed to use carbon nanotubes in the place of transistors in constructing logic-gate circuits whose densities resembles those of the modern CMOS technology (Pumera 4972-4978).
Carbon nanotubes are also good in the manufacture of paper batteries. In most cases, the nanotubes will take the place of the electrodes thus, making it easier for the storage facility to conduct electricity. Additionally, nanotubes are law materials in the manufacture of solar cells. Together with fullerenes, carbon nanotubes create snake-like configurations as one of the materials for constructing a solar cell. Each of the two, nanotube and fullerenes, performs a specific function. For example, the fullerenes have the capacity to trap electrons but cannot induce their movement across the cell. However, with the presence of sunlight to excite the electrons and the nanotubes functioning as conductors, the electrons can easily flow in the cell (Harris 26-76).
Conclusion
Since the development of nanotubes, new technologies have emerged that uses nanotubes as one of the basic raw material. For instance, the latest development of grapheme nanotube is a big boost to the chip industry, as computer manufacturers will seek to replace silicon chips with grapheme that takes long time to heat.
Works Cited
Harris, Peter. Carbon Nanotube Science: Synthesis, Properties and Applications. Cambridge University press. 2009. Print.
Pumera, Martin. The Electrochemistry of Carbon Nanotubes: Fundamentals and Applications. A European Journal of Chemistry, 15 (20), 2009, 4970-4978.