Carbon nanothread
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A diamond nanothread is a tetrahedrally-bonded carbon crystalline nanomaterial (a close-packed sp3 bonded carbon structure). Its structure is similar to that of diamond. DNTs are only a few atoms across, more than 20,000 times thinner than a human hair.
Properties
DNTs rival or exceed the strength of carbon nanotubes (CNTs), which are 500 times stronger than steel. Recent molecular dynamics simulations have indicated a stiffness on the order of carbon nanotubes (approx. 850 GPa) and a specific strength of approx. 4 × 107 N·m/kg.[1]
Every type of DNT has a very high Young's modulus (the amount of force needed to stretch or compress a substance). The value for the strongest type of DNT is around 900 gigapascal (1 GPa is about 10,000 atmospheres) compared to steel at 200 GPa and diamond at over 1,200 GPa.[2]
History
In 2014, researchers at Penn State University created the first DNTs.[3] As of 2015, fibers 90 nanometers in length had been created (compared to .5 meters for CNTs). Also in 2015, a simulation indicated that the strength of the material was not a function of its length.[2]
Synthesis
Synthesis is achieved using liquid benzene subjected to extreme pressure (around 200,000 times the pressure at the surface of the Earth), and then slowly relieved of that pressure.[3] The benzene chains form extremely thin, tight rings of carbon that are structurally identical to diamonds.[4]
See also
- Boron nitride nanotube
- Buckypaper
- Carbide-derived carbon
- Carbon nanocone
- Carbon nanofibers
- Carbon nanoparticles
- Carbon nanoscrolls
- Carbon nanotube chemistry
- Colossal carbon tube
- Filamentous carbon
- Graphene oxide paper
- List of software for nanostructures modeling
- Molecular modelling
- Nanoflower
- Ninithi (nanotube modelling software)
- Organic semiconductor
- Selective chemistry of single-walled nanotubes
- Silicon nanotubes
- Timeline of carbon nanotubes
- Vantablack, a substance produced in 2014; the blackest substance known
External links
- Forget Graphene and Carbon Nanotubes, Get Ready for Diamond Nanothread technologyreview.com
References
- ↑ Roman, R. Kwan, K., and Cranford, S.W., Mechanical Properties and Defect Sensitivity of Diamond Nanothreads, Nano Letters, Feb. 18, 2015, 15 (3), pp 1585–1590
- 1 2 Carpineti, Alfredo (November 28, 2015). "Super-Strong Diamond Nanothread Has People Dreaming Of A Space Elevator". IFLScience. Retrieved 2015-11-29.
- 1 2 T.C.Fitzgibbons et al., Benzene-derived carbon nanothreads, Nature Materials, September 21, 2014
- ↑ Scientists Might Have Accidentally Solved The Hardest Part Of Building Space Elevators, Business Insider, 13 October 2014, Ajai Raj
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