1 - Carbon-based smart nanomaterials

Abstract

Nanoscience and nanotechnology have been emerged as an inimitable and powerful interdisciplinary research area, which has generated several futuristic ideas for various applications in today’s world. These can control and build functional materials and devices. Advances and in-depth study of nanomaterials aid in controlling matter and manipulating properties at atomic or molecular scale leading to modern age smart nanotechnology. The essence lies in the development of advanced nanomaterials with directed size, shape, nature, crystallinity, and controlled functionality. The carbon-based nanomaterials (CBNs) such as carbon nanotubes, fullerenes, carbon fibers, and graphene have gained immense popularity because of their extraordinary properties and admirable applications in various fields. These CBNs have high surface area, high mechanical strength, high conductivity, electron mobility, and flexibility. Owing to their exceptionally high mechanical, thermal, optical, electrical, and magnetic properties, these CBNs are considered as one of the prime members of smart nanomaterials and advanced nanotechnology. These have potential application in various fields such as energy storage devices, drug delivery, environmental monitoring, catalysis, solar cells, sensors, optoelectronics, and biomedical applications etc. This chapter gives a brief introduction on CBNs and their types, properties, and synthesis techniques.