Carbon Family at the Nanoscale

Abstract

This chapter provides brief historical overviews of the discoveries related to sp2 and sp3 nanostructured carbon, which provide tentative classification of major carbon structures at the nanoscale, and summarizes exotic nanocarbons observed to date. The new nanocarbon science includes the fullerenes, nanotubes, and UNCD that constitute a closely related triad. The methods of synthesis of these representative nanocarbons of the triad are well established. The combination of different types of nanocarbons and composites with novel properties is a current experimental challenge and the hybrid carbon nanostructure is one of the major directions in the field. Show more