Multi-walled carbon nanotubes

Abstract

Multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) multi-walled carbon nanotube (MWCNT) are elongated cylindrical nanoobjects made of sp2 carbon. Their diameter is 3-30 nm and they can grow several cm long, thus their aspect ratio can vary between 10 and ten million. They can be distinguished from single-walled carbon nanotubes on the basis of their multi-walled Russian-doll structure and rigidity, and from carbon nanofibers on the basis of their different wall structure, smaller outer diameter, and hollow interior. This chapter tube interior introduces MWCNT synthesis methods, discusses the chemistry and properties of multi-walled carbon nanotubes, and gives examples of their application. References to single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWNT) single-walled carbon nanotube (SWNT) are kept at a minimum.