Nanostructured Carbon Materials

Abstract

This paper presents an overview over nanostructured carbon materials, starting with a classification of carbon nanostructures based on the chemical bonding of the carbon atoms, i.e. on the type of hybridization. Then a summary of the carbon nanoworld is given, addressing the stability and the typical geometrical sizes of its family members. Finally, the most common methods for the synthesis of nanostructured carbon materials and some application relevant properties of nanocrystalline diamond films, nanodiamond powders, carbon nanotubes and fullerenes are discussed.