Chapter 1 - Carbon-based nanomaterials

Abstract

Carbon materials have played a significant role in the development of human life. These materials are widely used in household and fulfill the day to day needs since prehistoric times. The era of nanotechnology further give birth to different nanoforms of carbon materials at the molecular and submolecular level. The carbon nanomaterials have significantly different properties from their bulk-scale counterparts. The carbon nanomaterials created enormous attention among researchers to investigate their electrical, physical, mechanical, sensing, and chemical properties. The current status of research regarding the different allotrope of carbon nanomaterials and their properties has been discussed thoroughly in this chapter. The synthesis route for carbon materials at different temperatures is well summarized. The need of functionalization of carbon materials required for various applications are also addressed. The increasing commercial use of these materials includes technical, environmental, and agricultural applications are incorporated at the end of the chapter.