NANOTECHNOLOGY AND

CARBON

Hakan Emir Alkaya – 05150000442

2021- Spring Semester
 •Biological structures have inspired the development of nanotechnology.
Considering the prevalence and indispensability of carbon in organic
materials, all living things have a carbon-based life, and it will be clear how
important the carbon atom is in terms of nanotechnology.
•We can say that the experimental discovery of the C60 molecule, which
consists of sixty carbon atoms in the shape of a soccer ball-shaped lattice,
opened the door to nanoscience in 1985. Then, in 1991, for the first time
experimentally, the obtaining of carbon nanotube structures started the
OVERVIEW nanotechnology process and accelerated the experimental and institutional
studies in this field. Carbon nanotubes are one of the best examples of
nanoscale materials in terms of their structural and mechanical properties,
and perhaps the first nanotechnology-specific applications were realized
using this structure. Later developments show that studies are also carried out
on different materials and structures in nanoscience and nanotechnology;
however, when we consider the current studies, most of the studies on
nanostructures constitute carbon-based materials. This slide includes a
presentation comparing the uses, history and advantages and disadvantages of
carbon in nanotechnology.
 DEFINITION

•There are interesting structures that consist

only of carbon atoms at the nanometer
scale. These are generally lattice structures
that can be classified as balls, tubes, rods
and rings. The practical application areas of
carbon nanostructures are in a wide range
from electronics to medical materials.
•Nanostructures formed by carbon atoms
are not limited to lattice structures. For
example, it is possible to form a lump
consisting of n carbon atoms. Carbon
pellets have interesting structural
properties; How a lumpy structure that can
be represented by Cn takes certain shapes
according to the value of n.
 CARBON IN GENERAL

•Apart from its crystal structures such as diamond and graphite, carbon is an interesting element in that it has
solid structures of finite dimensions (nanometers), apart from the above classification. Carbon nanostructures
can be broadly classified as ball, tube rod and ring. This feature of carbon has been known for the last 15
years and it still preserves its feature as one of the materials that have been studied both experimentally and
institutionally.
•The sp, sp2, sp3 bonding of carbon-based materials can also be associated with the size of these materials.
Carbon is the only element in the periodic table that can have isomers from 0 (zero) to 3 (three) dimensions.
Isomers are structures that can have different shapes in the same atomic number. Carbon is a wonderful and
unique element with different stable structures and many interesting properties, from three-dimensional (3D)
semiconductor diamond structure to two-dimensional (2D) semi-metallic graphite, one-dimensional (1D)
conductive and semiconducting nanotubes, and 0-dimensional (0D) nanoballs.
•Since the 1B and 0B structures of carbon are in the nanometer scale, these structures are generally called
carbon nanostructures. Examples of different sizes of structures that carbon can form are shown in the figure.
•The various carbon structures will be explained simply in the next few slides.
 DIAMOND

It is the well-known crystal structure of carbon. Atoms bond with each other in
sp3 form. It can be produced as a single crystal in the laboratory as well as
naturally. Its main feature is that it has a very rigid structure.
 GRAPHITE

Graphite is another well-known

crystal structure of carbon. In
graphite structure (graphite
plates), carbon atoms are bonded
to each other in sp2 form.
Gaphite can be produced as a
single crystal in laboratories as
well as naturally, this is called
“kish” graphite.
 CARBON
FIBERS

These graphite materials, which

are cylindrical and have different
cross-sectional structures, have
important mechanical properties
in terms of being very durable.
 GLASSY CARBON

These materials, which are found in nature in

the form of polymers or in a porous (spongy)
structure, are a material that shows variable
properties according to the method of
preparation and is generally durable. In the
parts with pores in the structure, the surface
area is large and the number of openly bonded
carbon atoms is higher than in the inner parts.
 BLACK
CARBON

Carbon pellets obtained by

removing hydrogen from
hydrocarbons are called black
carbon. It takes different names
depending on the production
conditions. In industry, it is
applied as a filler to regulate such
properties of mechanical,
electrical, optical materials.
 CARBINE AND
CARBOLITES

These structures, in the form of chains or polymers,

usually occur after rapid cooling processes, and the
crystalline chambers have a hard structure.
 AMORPHOUS CARBON

•It is a carbon material that does not have a long-range order, sometimes has a
short-range order, and is usually formed in an irregular structure. Its physical
properties may change according to the preparation conditions. In amorphous
structure, atoms can bond with each other (90%) as sp3 and (10%) as sp2.
 LIQUID
CARBON

It is a substance with high metal

properties (4450 K), obtained by
melting from diamond, graphite or
another structure.
 CARBON
NANOSTRUCTURES

•There are interesting structures that consist

only of carbon atoms at the nanometer scale.
These are generally lattice-like structures that
can be classified as (1)balls, (2)tubes, (3)rods
and (4)rings. The practical application areas of
carbon nanostructures are in a wide range from
electronics to medical materials.
•Nanostructures formed by carbon atoms are
not limited to lattice structures. For example, it
is possible to form a lump consisting of n
carbon atoms. Carbon pellets have interesting
structural properties; How a lumpy structure
that can be represented by Cn takes certain
shapes according to the value of n. The
structures formed by the carbon aggregates for
values ​of n between 2 and 10 are shown below.
 (1)CARBON NANOBALLS

•D.E.H. was first introduced in 1966 with the idea that carbon could form a ball-shaped
lattice structure. It was put forward by Jones, but this idea did not attract much attention of
the scientific community at that time.
•In 1984, while R. E. Smallley et al. melted and vaporized the graphite crystal with laser,
they realized that carbon atoms formed ball-shaped lattice structures of different sizes in the
form of lumps. These carbon balls contained as many carbon atoms as R. F. Curl, H. W.
Kroto, and R.E Smalley. This team was awarded the Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 1996 for
their pioneering work. 75% of the balls formed during the evaporation of graphite consist of
balls with 60 atoms (C60), balls with 70 atoms (C70) about 23%, and smaller and larger
balls the remainder. Among these balls, the C60 is the best known of its structure and
properties, but also the most robust. In carbon balls, atoms are sp2 bonded to each other. All
carbon balls have an even number of carbon atoms, and in stable carbon balls, the atoms
form hexagonal and pentagonal geometric shapes and come together to form a lattice
structure with only three neighbors. The carbon balls in the lattice structure are generally
called “fullerene”. Although this nomenclature was originally intended for C60, carbon balls
of all sizes are now briefly called fullerenes. The name Fullerene is named after the
architect, as the C60's structure is similar to the architectural designs made by Architect
Buckminster Fuller.
 •The smallest of the carbon balls has 20 atoms, they are in a structure consisting of 12 regular pentagons.
Structures with 12 faces or structures with symmetry of these structures are called icosahedral structures.
Carbon nanoballs are available in sizes ranging from 20 atoms to 1000s. The most produced and widely used
of the carbon naotopes is C60, which consists of 60 carbon atoms. The C60 has a spherical structure with 12-
sided symmetry (icosahedral symmetry) consisting of 12 pentagonal and 20 hexagonal faces. Generally,
carbon balls in icosahedral symmetry form different sizes of single-walled structures such as intertwined
onion layers and can also be found in binary groups (dimers). Another structure that can be put in the class of
carbon balls can be C (cuban) in the form of a cube consisting of 8 carbon atoms. Although this structure is
not in the form of a ball, it is included in this group in terms of showing a lattice structure. C8 and C20
models and carbon ball models of different sizes are shown in the figures.
•It exists in crystal structures composed of carbon balls; these crystals are generally in face-centered cubic,
simple cubic and volume-centered cubic structures. The physical properties of crystal structures formed
especially from C60 and C70 are well known, and it is possible to make new materials with different
properties, especially superconducting materials, doped by placing other atoms between carbon balls.
(1)CARBON •Carbon balls can be obtained as pure as well as doped. Doping can be done with another element placed
NANOBALLS inside the balls, as well as with another atom substituted for one of the ball atoms. Another atom can be
placed between the balls in the crystal structure formed from balls. When carbon balls are placed on crystal
surfaces, they change the electronic and optical properties of the surface they are placed on.
 (2)CARBON NANOTUBES

•It was experimentally noticed by Lijima in 1991 that carbon could form a tube-shaped
structure. Tubes obtained by the "arc-dicharge" evaporation method of graphite are
structures formed by bending the graphite plate into a cylinder shape. These structures,
which can be of different diameters and sizes, can be open or closed at the ends. It can be
single-walled or multi-walled in the form of nested cylinders. Depending on the bending
direction of the graphite plate, the tubes show different mechanical and electronic
properties; as they are very flexible and sturdy.
•Depending on the bending direction of the graphite plate, the tubes are either zigzag or
seated. In addition, there can be bent tubes with a little bending of one of the two
structures. Nanotubes are single-walled as well as interlocking multi-walled structures.
•While the seat model shows the metal feature, the zigzag model shows the semiconductor
feature, if the number of rings around the tube in the zigzag model is a multiple of 3, it
shows the metal feature. In smooth carbon nanotube structures, atoms bond with each
other in sp2 form, as in graphite plate, atoms form only hexagonal geometry and each atom
has only three neighbors. Other than the armchair and zigzag patterns, carbon nanotubes
have twisted structures that resemble slightly twisted versions of both models. The ends of
carbon nanotubes can be either open or closed. Conical structures of carbon tubes are also
possible. Carbon tubes of different diameters can be attached to each other, and different
geometric shapes (such as pentagons, hexagons) are formed at the joints or bends.
 (2)CARBON NANOTUBES

•Nanotubes are very resistant to being pulled in the direction of the tube axis, they show strength
without being damaged. The magnitude of the pulling force applied to break a bundle of tubes of
small diameter (about 1-2 nanometers) is about 36 gigapascals. This shows a stronger structure
than the strongest known materials. Nanotube fibers are the strongest material against stretching.
•Single-walled carbon nanotubes can form materials with rare mechanical and electromechanical
properties. Carbon tubes can also be formed in macroscopic sizes, but they are very fragile, and
tubes formed in nanometer sizes are very flexible and robust. Carbon nanotubes can also be
produced in the form of strips and spirals. Carbon nanotubes are formed in structures like bamboo.
•The diameters of carbon nanotubes are in the order of nanometers, they can be up to one
micrometer in length. The diameters of the nanotubes are much smaller than the most advanced
semiconductor devices ever made. The use of carbon nanotubes in semiconductor technology will
lead to a breakthrough in electronic device construction, because nanotubes have very special
electronic properties.
•The electronic properties of nanotubes show metal or semiconductor properties depending on the
tube geometry, diameter and the direction of the cylindrical surface. The electronic properties of the
tube can only be adjusted with the geometric shape without additives. The electronic properties of
the nanotubes are obtained by changing the tube geometry.
•There are several different methods applied to produce carbon nanotubes. These methods are
briefly called the "arc method", "laser method" and "chemical evaporation method". These methods
are shown schematically.
 (3)CARBON NANORODS

•In nested carbon tubes (multi-walled tubes), the distance

between the two tubes is usually greater than the bond distance
between the carbon atoms that make up the tube. If the distance
between the walls of the tubes in nested tubes is close enough
(less than 0.15 nanometers) that the carbon atoms can bond, then
the carbon atoms bond with each other sp3 (like), in other words,
each carbon atom has four bonded neighbors.
•The multi-walled tube structure formed in this case is called a
rod. These structures are less flexible than tubes. These structures
show different mechanical and electronic properties than single-
walled tubes. Carbon nanorods consist only of tube models,
nanorod structures can also be formed from crystal (diamond)
structure lattice. In addition, it is predicted that there may be
benzene rings lined upside by side, such structures are called
“benzorod”.
 (4)CARBON NANORINGS

•The two ends of the carbon tubes can be combined to form ring “toroidal”
structures. Although these structures are considered as institutional for now,
there is no doubt that they can be built experimentally in a short time. Many
different ring models can be created with rings of different inner and outer
diameters. Each different ring will show different characteristics.
•For now, it is theoretically predicted that carbon tubes can form spiral-shaped
structures by bending them. Helical tubular structures can also have interesting
properties.

A P P L I C AT I O N A R E A S O F
CARBON NANOSTRUCTURES
•It has been shown in laboratory conditions that carbon nanoballs
can be used as optical limiting devices, can be used as
photoreflective polymer layer, can be used as photoconductor,
photodiode and transistor, as well as in solar cells, due to their
non-linear absorption at electronically excited levels.
•In terms of materials science, it has been shown that carbon balls
can be used in the production of artificial diamonds, silicon
carbide thin plates, as a catalyst, in surface coating, in the
production of biological and medical materials, as well as in the
production of hydrogen storage and battery production as
electrochemistry applications.
•It is known that carbon nanoballs can also be used as a friction
reducing agent between materials due to their robust structure and
homogeneous load distribution. The superconducting properties of
doped crystals made of carbon balls open the door to a new field of
advanced materials.

A P P L I C AT I O N A R E A S O F
CARBON NANOSTRUCTURES
•Nanoballs are used as optical limiters; Optical limiters are coating
materials used to protect materials from excessive light. Since
polymers containing carbon balls show photoconductivity, carbon
nanoballs are used as photodiodes, transistors and solar cells.
•Carbon nanotop doped polymer thin layers are also used as optical
materials due to their interesting diffraction properties.
•Carbon nanoballs are also used as surface coating material to
protect materials against oxidation. Carbon nanoballs have an
important place in forming equipotential surfaces in metals. Carbon
nanoballs are used to coat the surfaces of materials with a thin
diamond layer, as well as to form a thin silicon carbide layer on
silicon surfaces; Silicon carbide thin layers have an important place
in high temperature resistant electronic devices and
micromechanical systems.
•Carbon nanoballs also have uses as catalysts; It acts as a catalyst
especially in reactions such as hydrocarbon coupling reactions,
oxidation and hydrogenation of organic solvents, etc.
•Carbon nanoballs also play important roles in the creation of layered
structures. Layered structures have many electronic and optical applications.
New materials made from carbon nanoballs have a wide range of uses, from
polymer technology to biology and even medical applications.
•It can be said that carbon nanoballs even have a place in the treatment of
AIDS when it is determined that a substance formed from carbon ball
derivatives soluble in water limits the activities of the HIV virus.
•Carbon nanoballs can be used to store hydrogen and make high-energy A P P L I C AT I O N A R E A S O F
batteries. CARBON NANOSTRUCTURES
•Due to the spherical and symmetrical structure of carbon nanoballs, the
electric charge is distributed homogeneously on them, and it can also be
used as a friction reducing agent between two separate materials.
•Carbon nanoballs are also used in the construction of sensors for various
properties (various gases, humidity, etc.).
 •The fact that the doped crystal structures formed from nanoballs
show superconductivity shows that nanoballs have an important
place in the production of superconducting materials.
•It is predicted that carbon nanotubes can be used mostly as
electronic materials. It has been shown in laboratory conditions
that the tubes, which seem to be more suitable for the one-
dimensional structure feature, can also be used as one-dimensional
A P P L I C AT I O N A R E A S O F
CARBON NANOSTRUCTURES
cylindrical wires, as memory and key devices, and as optical and
magnetic materials.
•By doping nanotubes with other suitable atoms, low-dimensional,
generally "1D" large new materials can be produced. Carbon
nanotubes have areas of use as electronic materials in the
construction of magnetic and optical nanodevices, memory
elements, capacitors, transistors, diodes, logic circuits and
electronic switches.

A P P L I C AT I O N A R E A S O F
CARBON NANOSTRUCTURES
•In terms of showing the possible usage areas of carbon
nanostructures, the patents obtained on this subject show
very well where the studies are going. In addition, the
experimental and institutional studies on this subject
have increased day by day, the usage areas of carbon
nanostructures and the production and application of
nanodevices that can be obtained from these materials
have started the nanotechnology era.
 VIDEOS
Vantablack – Carbon Nanotube Technology How carbon nanotubes might boost solar energy?

Nano-carbon material technology for Clinical Applications of Carbon Nanomaterials

energy storage applications? in Diagnostics and Therapy
 REFERENCES

•İnovatif Kimya Dergisi - Karbon ve Nanoteknoloji

•Bilimgenç (Tubitak) - Karbon Nanotüpler
•Nanografi - Karbon Nanotpler ve Nanoteknoloji İle Gelecek
•Nanobilim ve Nanoteknoloji – Prof. Dr. Şakir Erkoç
•Yakalaşan Saat - Nanoteknolojide Karbon
•Nanowerk - İntroduction to Nanotechnology
•Nano-C - Nanotechnology and Carbon