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Carbon nanotube facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts
Kohlenstoffnanoroehre Animation
This animation of a spinning carbon nanotube shows its 3D structure.
Eight Allotropes of Carbon
Some allotropes of carbon. Compare the nanotube (h) to: a) diamond; b) graphite; c) lonsdaleite; d-f) fullerenes (C60, C540, C70); g) amorphous carbon.

A carbon nanotube is an allotrope of carbon that is shaped like a tube of carbon atoms. Carbon nanotubes are very tough and hard to break, but still relatively light. Because of their high strength, carbon nanotubes may one day be used for bulletproof armor and other uses needing hard, lightweight materials. Some carbon nanotubes also let electricity through them. Certain nanotubes may be up to 1,000 times better at conducting electricity than metals like copper and silver.

Images for kids

  • Chiraltube

    A scanning tunneling microscopy image of a single-walled carbon nanotube

  • Kohlenstoffnanoroehre Animation

    Rotating single-walled zigzag carbon nanotube

  • Cycloparaphenylene

    Cycloparaphenylene

  • Multi-walled Carbon Nanotube

    Triple-walled armchair carbon nanotube

  • 3D carbon scaffolds

    3D carbon scaffolds

  • NanoBud

    A stable nanobud structure

  • CNTSEM

    A scanning electron microscopy image of carbon nanotube bundles

  • Carbon nanotube bands

    Band structures computed using tight binding approximation for (6,0) CNT (zigzag, metallic), (10,2) CNT (semiconducting) and (10,10) CNT (armchair, metallic)

  • Computer simulated microstructure of nanocomposite

    Computer simulated microstructures with agglomeration regions

  • Nano tape

    Nano tape

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Nanotubo de carbono para niños

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Carbon nanotube Facts for Kids. Kiddle Encyclopedia.