Innovations in Bucky Balls, Nanotubes, Single Wall Nanotubes (SWNTs) and Nanopores Make Commercial Production a Reality

Bucky Balls and Carbon Nanotubes: Carbon has proven to be the most promising element for use in nano-sized structures. It was previously thought that pure carbon came in only two forms (called allotropes): diamond (commonly known as a gemstone), forming densely packed cubes; and graphite, which is made up of carbon atoms bonded into sheets that slide along one another. However, in 1985 the buckminsterfullerene (commonly called “bucky ball”) was discovered in the U.S., when an electric arc was passed between two carbon rods. New formations, composed of 60 or 70 carbon atoms, were arranged in a spherical shape, resembling the geodesic domes designed by the popular architect Buckminster Fuller, after whom the molecules were named.

Carbon nanotubes (sometimes called “buckytubes”) are cylindrical members of the fullerene structure family. They were discovered in Japan in 1991, under a similar experiment, and are much like graphite sheets except that they have been rolled into tubes. These tubes seem capable of achieving infinite length, theoretically ranging from nanometers to thousands of miles long, although no tube has yet stretched more than a few centimeters. The tube walls can be composed of one or many layers of carbon sheets. Nanotubes have shown some incredible properties, and much of the research into nanotechnology to-date has been focused on finding practical applications and improved production methods for nanotubes. They theoretically have a tensile strength 30 to 100 times that of steel, yet at a mere fraction of the weight, making nanotubes one of the most promising materials ever for the production of such products as airplanes, spacecraft and bullet-proof vests, where light weight and high tensile strength are of extreme importance.

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum dolore eu fugiat nulla pariatur. Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident, sunt in culpa qui officia deserunt mollit anim id est laborum.

Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum dolore eu fugiat nulla pariatur. Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident, sunt in culpa qui officia deserunt mollit anim id est laborum.

Become a Plunkett Research Online subscriber to gain unlimited access to our massive amount of vital industry data and market research.

✔ 100,000 Industry Statistics
✔ 500 Industries Analyzed for Market Size, Profits and Forecasts
✔ 150,000 Industry Executives Profiled
✔ 25,000 Companies Profiled, Ranked and Analyzed
✔ 1,000 Vital Trends Analyzed, totaling 1,000,000 words

Learn More

Innovations in Bucky Balls, Nanotubes, Single Wall Nanotubes (SWNTs) and Nanopores Make Commercial Production a Reality, Business and Industry Trends Analysis

A Representative List of Organizations that Have Used our Research and Products:

How to access Plunkett Research data.

What data challenge can we help you solve today?

Take a Tour

Contact

Testimonials