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Talk about the past and present life of carbon nanotubes and graphene

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Are carbon nanotubes graphene?
Both graphene, and carbon nanotubes, are made from carbon atoms. Graphene is a one-layer graphite layer, the most fundamental structural unit of graphite. Carbon nanotubes are made by curling graphene. Carbon nanotubes, which are made up of hexagonally arranged carbon atoms, form coaxial tubes with tens of multiple layers. Carbon nanotubes look like graphene (a hexagonal lattice made of carbon) that has been rolled into cylindrical form. Both graphene (a hexagonal lattice of carbon) and carbon nanotubes are characterized by extraordinary mechanical and electrical properties.

Research on carbon nanotubes, in terms of characterization, application and preparation technology has now reached a certain level of depth and breadth. Due to their close connection, both research methods have many similarities. Carbon nanotube research was the original inspiration for many graphene-related research methods.

What is different between carbon nanotubes (CNT) and graphene?

Graphene, a two-dimensional substance, is a layer graphite with carbon atoms arranged hexagonally in a honeycomb lattice. Carbon nanotubes consist of hollow cylindrical structures. They are basically a graphene layer rolled into an cylinder. Both are representative of two-dimensional nanomaterials (2D) as well as one-dimensional (1D).

Carbon nanotubes are one-dimensional carbon crystal structures, whereas graphene is only composed of a single carbon layer and is a real two-dimensional crystalline structure.

From a performance perspective, graphene exhibits properties that are comparable or even superior to those of carbon nanotubes. These include high electrical conductivity and thermal conductivity; high carrier mobility; free-electron space and high strength and rigidity.

According to their thickness, they are divided into multi-walled and single-walled nanotubes. Graphene is an exfoliated two-dimensional carbon crystal made up of carbon atoms. The single-walled carbon Nanotubes are also part of the graphene family. Layer graphene or graphene microplatelets.

Is graphene a stronger material than carbon nanotubes

Both graphene and carbon nanotubes are graphite in essence. But the arrangement and combinations of carbon atoms differ, creating spiral carbon nanotubes whereas graphene is a sheet. They both share some graphite characteristics.
Carbon nanotubes have achieved similar results in current research, but graphene’s unique two-dimensional structure and wide application make it superior at transferring its mechanical properties. While carbon nanotubes are achieving similar results, graphene has more advantages over the long term.

Although graphene, and carbon nanotubes share a common pre-existence they will likely have a very different future. The dispute between two-dimensional and three-dimensional material is the primary cause. Nanowires and microtubes often have a disadvantage when competing against thin-film material. As an example, carbon nanotubes. Carbon nanotubes can be considered as single crystals with high aspect ratios. Currently, however, current synthesis technology and assembly techniques cannot create carbon nanotubes of macroscopic size, thus limiting their use in carbon applications. Graphene’s advantage is that its two-dimensional crystal structure has several record-breaking characteristics (strength and electrical conductivity) as well as the ability to continuously grow in a wide area. Combining bottom-up with top-down can lead to exciting future applications.

How is graphene transformed into carbon nanotubes

For carbon nanotubes to be formed, graphene and the carbon atoms are manipulated into a thin plate that is then rolled into an cylinder. The graphene sheets that are used to produce nanotubes have a two-dimensional structure because graphene has only one atom thickness.
New graphene and carbon nanotube catalyst can ignite a clean-energy revolution

Researchers have developed promising graphene/carbon nanotube catalysers to better control chemical reactions important for the production of hydrogen fuel.

Fuel cells, water electrolyzers and fuel cells that are efficient and cheap will become the cornerstones in the hydrogen fuel economy. This is one of most promising and clean alternatives to fossil-fuels. The electrocatalysts that are used in these devices make them work. Developing low-cost, efficient electrocatalysts will be crucial for making hydrogen fuel viable. Researchers from Aalto University created a new kind of catalyst material for these technologies.

The team, in collaboration with CNRS, created a graphene-carbon-nanotube hybrid that is highly porous and contains single atoms known to act as good catalysts. Graphene (CNT) and carbon nanotubes are allotropes of the carbon atom-thick, which can be found in two-dimensional or one-dimensional forms. Carbon nanotubes and graphene are more popular than traditional materials in the industry and academia due to their exceptional performance. The world is awash with interest. They developed an easy and scalable way to grow all these nanomaterials together and combine their properties into a single product.

The substrate usually acts as a support for the catalyst. Researchers ignore the role that the substrate has in the final reaction of the catalyst. But for this type of catalyst, they have discovered that it is important. The researchers discovered that the porous nature of the material allowed it to access more catalyst sites located at the interface between the substrate and the material. The researchers developed a new electrochemical microscopy analysis method to determine how the interface contributed to the catalytic process and to produce the most potent catalyst. They hope their research on how the matrix influences the catalytic activities of porous material will provide the basis for rational design and guidance for future electrochemical energy devices.

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