increasing demand for analytical devices demanding tiny sample volumes, reduced power consumption and higher performance have been counted as driving forces behind the vigorous growth of nanomaterials research. By incorporation of nanomaterials, there is high possibility to obtain improved sensitivity and greater response time. The distinctive properties and high functionalities of carbon nanotubes encouraged companies and researchers to use them diversely. Following surveys has helped surging the carbon nanotubes applications.
Carbon Nanotubes and Energy
At the Rice University, it was conclude that to halt the growth of lithium and metal anodes, carbon nanotubes films is widely used. This facilitates building up lithium metal batteries which would inherit properties like prompt charging and extremely higher capacity than lithium ion batteries. At the University of Delaware, researchers have demonstrated tremendous increment in energy density for capacitors with the help of carbon nanotubes in 3-D structured electrodes.
support of significant application of carbon nanotubes, researchers of North Carolina State University demonstrated the utilization of silicon coated carbon nanotubes in anodes for Li-ion batteries. They are estimating that the use of silicon will reinforce the capacity of Li-ion batteries by up to ten times. But silicon expands mostly during a batteries discharge cycle, which may eventually destruct silicon based anodes. When silicon is deposited evenly on nanotubes which are aligned parallel to each other, it probably curbs damage to the anode when the silicon expands.
Los Alamos National Laboratory’s researchers have shown that catalyst made with the help of doped carbon-nanotubes, in place of platinum, could be used in Lithium-air batteries which is capable of storing ten times higher energy than lithium-ion batteries.
University’s researchers have created electrodes which are made from carbon nanotubes grown on grapheme with very low electrical resistance and very high surface area. At first, the researchers grow graphene on a metal substrate which is followed by growing carbon nanotubes on the graphene sheet. As the base of each and every nanotube is bonded that is, atom to atom, to the graphene sheet. The nanotube graphene structure is specifically one molecule with enormous surface area.
Making use of carbon nanotubes in the cathode layer of a battery that can be produced on almost any surface. The battery can be formed by simply spraying layers of paint which consist the components required for each dedicated part of the battery.
Carbon nanotubes are able to perform as a catalyst in a fuel cell, ignoring the application of high-priced platinum on which most of the catalysts are based. Researchers have established the fact that incorporating iron and nitrogen atoms into the carbon lattice of nanotubes outcomes in nanotubes with catalytic properties.
Carbon Nanotubes In Healthcare
Researchers are refining dental implants by addition of nanotubes to the surface of the implant material. They are able to exhibit better bone adherences to titanium dioxide nanotubes when compared to the surface of standard titanium implants. Along with that, they have successfully exhibited the ability to load the nanotubes with anti-inflammatory drugs which has direct application to the nearby area of the implant.
MIT researchers have created a sensor using carbon nanotubes which is embedded in a gel; that can proficiently monitor the level of nitricoxide in the bloodstream when injected under the skin. Acknowledgement of nitricoxide levels is worthwhile as it indicates the signs of inflammation, letting easy track of inflammatory diseases. In tests with laboratory mice the sensor remained functional for over a year.
Researchers have diligently demonstrated artificial muscles formulated of yarn woven with carbon nanotubes and filled with wax. To prove the same, various tests took place that displayed that the artificial muscles is capable of lifting weights that are relatively 200 times heavier than natural muscles of the similar size.
When nanotubes are bound to the chickens’ produced antibody are of high significance in terminating the breast cancer tumors. The nanotubes that carry antibody are magnetized towards the proteins produces by one particular type of breast cancer cell. And when attached to these sort of cells, the nanotubes assimilate light from an infrared laser, burn up the nanotubes and the tumor attached to it.
University of Connecticut researchers have created a sensor that uses gold nanoparticles and nanotubes to recognize proteins that offers indication of existing oral cancer. With help of test, it has been displayed that this sensors are accurate and offers outcomes in less than an hour.
Carbon Nanotubes and the Environment
main motive behind developing carbon nanotubes is to clean up oil spills. It has been found that addition of boron atoms during the development of carbon nanotubes facilitates the nanotubes to turn into a sponge like material that has the ability to absorb its weight in oil, a lot of times. The composition of these nanotubes sponges are tailored to be magnetic as it makes effortless retrieval of them once they are filled with oil.
Besides that, carbon nanotubes are used as the pores in membranes to implement reverse osmosis desalination plants. Even the water molecules find easy pathway through the smoother carbon nanotubes walls than the other types of nanopores, which needs less power. Some are finding carbon nanotubes application in development of inexpensive and small water purification devices demanded in developing economies.
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