Carbon Nanotubes and Related Structures: New Materials for the Twenty-first Century

This 1999 book covers all the most important areas of nanotube research, as well as discussing related structures such as carbon nanoparticles and 'inorganic fullerenes'. Carbon nanotubes are molecular-scale carbon fibres with structures related to those of the fullerenes. Since their discovery in 1991, they have captured the imagination of physicists, chemists and materials scientists alike. Physicists have been attracted to them because of their extraordinary electronic properties, chemists because of their potential as 'nano-test-tubes', and materials scientists because of their amazing stiffness, strength and resilience. On a more speculative level, nanotechnologists have considered possible nanotube-based gears and bearings. This was the first single-author book on carbon nanotubes. It will be of interest to chemists, physicists, materials scientists and engineers working on carbon materials and fullerenes from both an academic and industrial background.

Table of Contents:
1. Introduction; 2. Synthesis; 3. Structure; 4. The physics of nanotubes; 5. Nano-capsules and nano-test-tubes; 6. The ultimate carbon fibre?; 7. Curved crystals, inorganic fullerenes and nanorods; 8. Carbon onions and spheroidal carbon; 9. Future directions; Index.

About the Author :
Peter Harris was brought up in Gloucestershire and read chemistry at Birmingham University. He went on to study for a doctorate at Oxford University, where his project involved transmission electron microscopy of catalytic materials. Since that time his research has focused on the application of various forms of microscopy to problems in solid-state chemistry, and materials science. He has carried out post-doctoral work at both Cambridge and Oxford, and currently works in the Chemistry Department at Reading University, where he is responsible for electron microscopy. In addition to his work on carbon nanotubes and nanoparticles, he is involved in a wide range of projects for departments across the University. He has published over 40 scientific papers, and regularly reviews books for materials and microscopy journals. He lives in Twyford, outside Reading, with his wife and two daughters.

Review :
Review of the hardback: 'It is a most readable and useful book, which contains a wealth of up-to-date information for specialists and non-specialists … To sum up, the book is well written and presented with illustrations and diagrams that bestow an excellent visual style … Harris has himself made important contributions to this field. Thus the book is full of relevant, up-to-date information for both the specialist and the non-specialist about an exciting and promising, yet highly demanding field that is exploding.' Sir Harold Kroto, The Times Higher Education Supplement Review of the hardback: '… timely and well-illustrated book … the author does an admirable job in collating the wide-ranging literature and provides an excellent bibliography at the end of each chapter. Carbon Nanotubes and Related Structures provides an excellent review of the literature to date in this fast-moving research field and, as recommended by the author, should prove to be an appropriate and useful text for all those scientists working in this multidisciplinary area.' Paul R. Birkett, Chemistry in Britain Review of the hardback: 'Harris has written a most readable and useful book, which contains a wealth of up to date information of interest to both specialists and non-specialists.' Interdisciplinary Science Reviews Review of the hardback: 'Carbon Nanotubes and Related Structures constitutes a timely. complete and updated compilation of knowledge in the field … Harris' book is unique since it is an up-to-date complete review of carbon nanotubes. It includes the key tools for carrying out future developments, aimed at possible fullerene/nanotube applications. This account will undoubtedly motivate further experimental and theoretical research.' Mauricio Terrones Review of the hardback: 'The book is very comprehensive … clear, well balanced.' Wolfgang Krätschmer, The Chemical Intelligencer '… a very valuable introduction to the science of curved sp2 carbon materials.' Ljubisa R. Radovic, Carbon 'This book covers the most important areas of nanotube research, as well as discussing related structures such as carbon nanoparticles and inorganic fullerenes.' Materials World 'In a clear and straightforward style, Harris carefully chronicles the discovery of carbon nanotubes and related structures, and documents the development of carbon nanoscience and nanotechnology. The current developments of the field are tied to their historical roots in such a surprising way that it makes Carbon Nanotubes and Related Structures both a pleasure to reead and a specialized scientific book. … The book offers a good introduction to the science and technology of carbon nanotubes and related structures in a very readable manner, all topics being well introduced and carefully considered.' A European Journal of Chemical Physics and Physical Chemistry