Carbon Nanotubes – Basic Concepts and Physical Properties

Carbon nanotubes are exceptionally interesting from a fundamental research point of view. Many concepts of one-dimensional physics have been verified experimentally such as electron and phonon confinement or the one-dimensional singularities in the density of states; other 1D signatures are still under debate, such as Luttinger-liquid behavior. Carbon nanotubes are chemically stable, mechanically very strong, and conduct electricity. For this reason, they open up new perspectives for various applications, such as nano-transistors in circuits, field-emission displays, artificial muscles, or added reinforcements in alloys.This text is an introduction to the physical concepts needed for investigating carbon nanotubes and other one-dimensional solid-state systems. Written for a wide scientific readership, each chapter consists of an instructive approach to the topic and sustainable ideas for solutions. The former is generally comprehensible for physicists and chemists, while the latter enable the reader to work towards the state of the art in that area. The book gives for the first time a combined theoretical and experimental description of topics like luminescence of carbon nanotubes, Raman scattering, or transport measurements.The theoretical concepts discussed range from the tight-binding approximation, which can be followed by pencil and paper, to first-principles simulations. We emphasize a comprehensive theoretical and experimental understanding of carbon nanotubes including - general concepts for one-dimensional systems - an introduction to the symmetry of nanotubes - textbook models of nanotubes as narrow cylinders - a combination of ab-initio calculations and experiments - luminescence excitation spectroscopy linked to Raman spectroscopy - an introduction to the 1D-transport properties of nanotubes - effects of bundling on the electronic and vibrational properties and - resonance Raman scattering in nanotubes.

Table of Contents:
INTRODUCTION STRUCTURE & SYMMETRY Relating Nanotubes and Graphene: Achiral and Chiral Nanotubes Bundled Nanotubes Line and Point Groups of Nanotubes Projector Techniques: Graphical Version and Modified Group Projectors ELECTRONIC PROPERTIES Graphite and Graphene Achiral, Chiral Nanotubes and Nanotube Bundles: Theory & Experiment Experiments: STM, EELS, Transport (?) Theory: Zone-Folding, Ab Initio Calculations Defects, Bents, Junctions OPTICAL PROPERTIES Selection Rules (Symmetry) Calculations: Achiral and Chiral Tubes; Graphite Experiments: Absorption, Resonant Raman, Reflectivity ELASTIC PROPERTIES Continuum Model, Ab Initio Young's Modulus, High-Pressure Raman and X-Ray Experiments VIBRATIONAL PROPERTIES Eigenvectors and Eigenfrequencies: Symmetry, Force-Constants and Ab Initio Calculations (Both Achiral and Chiral Nanotubes), Bundles Optical Modes: Raman Scattering, Infrared Spectroscopy Acoustic Modes: Cv Measurements Vibrating Reed Radial Breathing Mode (Including the Single Tubes Experiments and Bundle Calculations) DOUBLE RESONANCES IN RAMAN SCATTERING Raman and Resonances (Introduction) D-Mode in Graphite and Double Resonant Scattering Interpretation of the Raman Spectra of Nanotubes: Double Resonant Scattering

About the Author :
Stephanie Reich graduated in 2001 from the Technische Universitat Berlin, Germany, and, after a year at the Institut de Ciencia de Materials de Barcelona, Spain, she is now an Oppenheimer Fellow at the University of Cambridge, UK. Her scientific focus is combining experimental and ab-initio techniques in nanotube research. Christian Thomsen researches and teaches as professor of physics at the Technische Universitat Berlin. His work concentrates on the physical properties of solid-state systems investigated with optical spectroscopy. Janina Maultzsch is in the final state of completing her doctoral thesis at the Technische Universitat Berlin. Her main scientific interests are the symmetry properties of one-dimensional systems and resonant Raman processes in nanotubes.

Review :
"This book is...of interest to a wide range of scientists and graduate students in material science." (IEEE Circuits & Devices, July/August 2006) "This little-over-200-page book is well organized with each chapter beginning with a brief introduction and ending with a short summary...physicists, chemists, and material scientists who do research in this field will also find this book useful..." (E-STREAMS, October 2004) "The book gives for the first time a combined theoretical and experimental description of fundamental topics..." (Polymer News) "...physical concepts needed to understand and investigate carbon nanotubes are introduced..." (Materials Today, June 2004) "There is considerable theoretical discussion that would be of value to graduate students and researchers inside this book's pages." (Chip Scale Review, July 2004, (online: May 17, 2004))