Investigations of nanocarbons and related materials

Abstract

Carbon is one of the most interesting elements in the periodic table and it plays a unique role in nature. Carbon has the ability to form very long chains of interconnecting C-C bonds which is known as catenation. Due to catenation, carbon forms the highest number of compounds compared to any other element. The capability of carbon atoms to form complicated networks [1] is fundamental to organic chemistry and forms the basis for the existence of life. Elemental carbon forms many allotropes [Figure 1] such as diamond, graphite, fullerenes [2-4] and nanotubes [5]. Figure 1.