Carbon nanotubes for potential electronic and optoelectronic applications

Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) are novel quasi-one-dimensional materials with excellent electrical properties in addition to their remarkable mechanical strength, thermal conductivity and chemical inertness. Moreover, semiconducting CNTs are direct-gap semiconductors that directly absorb and emit light. This offers the possibility of developing a CNT-based electric and optoelectronic technology. © 2008 IEEE.