Carbon and Non-Carbon Nanotubes: Growth, Properties, and Potential Applications

Inorganic nanotubes represent a unique class of nanomaterials in which all atoms are located near the surface. Since electron flows on nanotubes are confined near the surface, nanotubes are especially attractive for electronics and sensing applications. In addition, their tubular structures enable nanofluidic devices. In this colloquium, controlled growth of a series of inorganic nanotubes and the possible growth mechanisms will be discussed, in particular, vertically-aligned carbon nanotubes (CNTs), boron nitride nanotubes (BNNTs), ZnO nanotubes (ZnO NTs), and Si nanotubes (SiNTs). The roles of dissociative adsorption, tri-layer catalyst, reactive plasmas, nucleation controls, and growth vapor controls on the formation of these nanotubes will be emphasized. Structural, optical, and electronic properties of these nanotubes as well as their potential applications will be discussed. Professor Yoke Khin Yap received his Ph.D. in 1999 from Osaka University as a “Monbusho” scholar. He was a fellow of the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (JSPS) before joining Michigan Tech in 2002. Professor Yap received the National Science Foundation CAREER Award in 2005. He has published more than 140 articles including book and encyclopedia chapters, review papers, peer-reviewed articles, and conference proceedings. His research program at Michigan tech is supported by DOA, NSF, DARPA, DOE, USDA, Argonne National Laboratory, and multiple DOE Nanoscale Science Research Centers. Professor Yap is the first elected Chair of the user group of the Center for Nanophase Materials Sciences at Oak Ridge National Laboratory.