Formation Mechanism and Controlled Growth of Carbon Nanotubes

Carbon nanotubes are exciting nano-materials and important "building blocks" of nanotechnology. Research and application of nanotubes are at the forefront of nanotechnology development. This project will investigate the formation mechanisms and controlled growth of carbon nanotubes in a new mechano-thermal synthesis process in which carbon nanotubes are produced in the order of kilogram from graphite powder by mechanical milling and thermal annealing. The outcomes of this research will be profoundly enhanced understanding of the controlled assembly of carbon atoms into a variety of nanosized tubules with excellent mechanical, chemical and physical properties, and an innovative synthesis/manipulation technology for industrial applications.