Carbon Nanotubes and our Future“Accidents happen!” Although the phrase may have a negative connotation, it is because of accidents and errors that humans discovered world-changing technologies. For example, vulcanized rubber and penicillin were discovered by accident (The Editors of Encyclopedia Britannica, 2018a) (The Editors of Encyclopedia Britannica, 2018b). These two technologies have provided the capability to create impact-resistant materials, automobile and bicycle tires, durable shoes, and a new class of medicine that has saved lives. Carbon nanotubes (CNT) include a list of materials accidentally discovered and showed the potential to create new materials and save lives! In 1991 a researcher, Sumio Iijima, fascinated with carbon materials and atomic structure, analyzed materials using an electron microscope. During his analysis, he recognized cylindric-shaped carbon structures that appeared to be “…extremely thin needle-like material…” (International Balzan Prize Foundation, 2007). Upon further inspection, Iijima realized that the structure was shaped like a tube and named the materials “carbon nanotubes.” Iijima’s finding was not the first time CNT was created; however, it was the first time a researcher reported their structure and potential applications (Iijima, 1991).
The discovery and further research regarding CNT applications have promised a boon of new materials, medical applications, and computer circuitry. CNT innovation and research are driven by numerous creation forces, including economic pressure to improve computer circuitry (Graham et al., 2005), medicine (Prato et al., 2008), create new materials, and drive innovation in green technology. CNT has the potential to drastically increase electric vehicle battery efficiency and capabilities and provide new materials to use in microchips. However, there remain challenges preventing whole scale application of CNT. CNT are incredibly strong and flexible, which drives a desire to use them in new materials for buildings, vehicles, and structures. However, Lu et al. share technological challenges to produce this microscopic miracle at a scale that is economically useful (Lu et al., 2012). Currently, industrial-scale manufacturing of CNT in quantities to support a new material revolution is one of the primary challenges of using CNT. In addition, using CNT for transistors is hindered by subtle defects in the tube structures themselves. A methodology to create a more uniform CNT will need to be developed before the next computer generation using CNT as transistors. CNT, nonetheless, have found their way into drinking water filters, sports equipment, batteries, and for use in the delivery of medicine (Cambridge, 2014). In addition, CNT is being produced in larger and larger quantities each year with a “..tenfold..” increase between 2006 and 2014. CNT, discovered by accident, could be the future material to follow a string of materials that were accidentally found and driven to the markets by economic and technological forces. It seems humans have a knack for discovering new materials, whether it be Charles Goodyear's vulcanized rubber or Leo Baekeland’s synthetic plastic. References Cambridge, U. of. (2014, March 31). Carbon nanotubes find real world applications. Phys.org. https://phys.org/news/2014-03-carbon-nanotubes-real-world-applications.html Graham, A. P., Duesberg, G. S., Seidel, R. V., Liebau, M., Unger, E., Pamler, W., Kreupl, F., & Hoenlein, W. (2005). Carbon Nanotubes for Microelectronics? Small, 1(4), 382–390. https://doi.org/10.1002/smll.200500009 Iijima, S. (1991). Helical microtubules of graphitic carbon. Nature, 354(6348), 56–58. https://doi.org/10.1038/354056a0 International Balzan Prize Foundation. (2007, November 22). The Discovery of Carbon Nanotubes - Basle, 22.11.2007. Www.balzan.org. https://www.balzan.org/en/prizewinners/sumio-iijima/the-discovery-of-carbon-nanotubes-iijima Lu, W., Zu, M., Byun, J.-H., Kim, B.-S., & Chou, T.-W. (2012). State of the Art of Carbon Nanotube Fibers: Opportunities and Challenges. Advanced Materials, 24(14), 1805–1833. https://doi.org/10.1002/adma.201104672 Prato, M., Kostarelos, K., & Bianco, A. (2008). Functionalized Carbon Nanotubes in Drug Design and Discovery. Accounts of Chemical Research, 41(1), 60–68. https://doi.org/10.1021/ar700089b The Editors of Encyclopedia Britannica. (2018a). Vulcanization | rubber manufacturing. In Encyclopædia Britannica. https://www.britannica.com/technology/vulcanization The Editors of Encyclopedia Britannica. (2018b). penicillin | Discovery, Mechanism of Action, & Uses. In Encyclopædia Britannica. https://www.britannica.com/science/penicillin
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AuthorI am a Doctoral Scholar at Colorado Technical University and a graduate of the Cyber Security Operations and Leadership program from the University of San Diego. I work in cybersecurity, and have accumulated twenty years in the IT industry. There are few IT roles I have not performed, which gives me great insights into making sense of all the IT confusion. Archives
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