Formation Mechanism and Controlled Growth of Carbon Nanotubes

碳纳米管是一种令人兴奋的纳米材料，也是纳米技术的重要组成部分。纳米管的研究和应用处于纳米技术发展的前沿。本项目将研究在一种新的机械热合成工艺中碳纳米管的形成机理和可控生长。在该工艺中，通过机械球磨和热退火从石墨粉中制备出约千克量级的碳纳米管。这项研究的成果将深刻加深人们对碳原子可控组装成各种具有优异机械、化学和物理性能的纳米管的理解，以及一种用于工业应用的创新合成/操纵技术。

Carbon nanotubes are exciting nano-materials and important "building blocks" of nanotechnology. Research and application of nanotubes are at the forefront of nanotechnology development. This project will investigate the formation mechanisms and controlled growth of carbon nanotubes in a new mechano-thermal synthesis process in which carbon nanotubes are produced in the order of kilogram from graphite powder by mechanical milling and thermal annealing. The outcomes of this research will be profoundly enhanced understanding of the controlled assembly of carbon atoms into a variety of nanosized tubules with excellent mechanical, chemical and physical properties, and an innovative synthesis/manipulation technology for industrial applications.