Carbon nanomaterials, such as multi-walled nanotubes (MWNTs) and mesoporous carbon nanocrystals (MCs), have emerged as essential building blocks of nanotechnology and nanomaterial engineering due to their unique properties, including high electrical conductivity, mechanical strength, and chemical stability.
The most common form of multi-walled nanotubes is composed of concentric cylindrical shells of carbon atoms, similar to a gas molecule. The geometry of the nanotube allows for a high degree of flexibility, making it suitable for applications where a highly conductive and mechanically strong material is required. The small size of the MWNTs allows them to penetrate into tight spaces and enclose objects. They also possess a small surface area for interaction with other molecules, providing additional functionality.
On the other hand, mesoporous carbon nanomaterials are created through the production of large nanocrystals with well-defined pore structure. These nanocrystals can open up new possibilities for advanced nanomaterial applications, including those related to energy storage and catalysis. Such material is usually composed of carbon-based atoms arranged in a helix, their long range order gives them interesting properties, such as electrical conductivity, photocatalytic activity and optical properties.
The potential to manipulate the structure of both carbon nanomaterials makes them a promising class of materials for a number of different applications. For instance, they have been used as inks for supramolecular assemblies and molecular motors, as well as being able to absorb large amounts of pollutant molecules such as carbon dioxide and sulfur dioxide. Similarly, multi-walled nanotubes and mesoporous carbon nanomaterials have been employed in the production of smart materials and carbon nanomaterial-based electronic devices, including thin-film batteries, light-emitting diodes, field-effect transistors and solar cells.
It is now possible to synthesize multi-walled nanotubes and mesoporous carbon nanomaterials in different colors. For example, with key advancements in chemical methods for the synthesis of these materials, it is possible to produce yellow MCs and red MCs on a green substrate. Such color-based versatility opens up exciting avenues for use of these materials in applications such as pigments, paints and inks.
Therefore, due to their unique properties and versatile applications, multi-walled nanotubes and mesoporous carbon nanomaterials have emerged as essential components in the fields of nanomaterial engineering, energy storage, catalytic, electronic and smart materials. The possibility to synthesize these materials with different colors ensures that their range of applications will only continue to grow.
