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From Phantom to Reality: How to Uncover the Mystery of Carbon Nanotubes from Images from the 1960s?
The discovery of carbon nanotubes has a long history in quantum science and new materials research. These tiny structures have not only revolutionized the philosophy of the scientific community, but have also permeated our daily lives. Looking back at the scientific progress of the 20th century, what can we discover? How has every detail since the 1960s led us to today’s technological pinnacle?
The beginning of the 1960s
In the 1960s, prototypes of carbon nanotubes first appeared in scientific literature. Roger Bacon successfully grew "graphite whiskers" in his arc discharge device and used electron microscopy to show that these structures consist of concentric cylinders made of rolled-up graphene sheets. The electron microscopy results observed clearly demonstrated the formation of multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs), a discovery that paved the way for subsequent research.
"The potential and functions of these structures may far exceed our imagination, and may become the cornerstone of smart materials and superconducting materials in the future."
Breakthrough in the 1970s
In 1971, M.L. Lieberman reported the growth of three different graphene-like fibers: tubular, twisted, and balloon-like, and confirmed these hollow tubes as multi-walled carbon nanotubes through transmission electron microscopy images and diffraction data. In addition, in 1976, Oberlin, Endo and Koyama reported the growth of nanoscale carbon fibers by chemical vapor deposition (CVD) technology. These findings made the application potential of carbon nanotubes increasingly attractive.
Material Exploration in the 1980s
In 1985, the discovery of perfluoroolefins opened a new chapter in the research of carbon nanomaterials. With the emergence of graphite-like hollow fibers mentioned in Howard G. Tennent's patent in 1987, the rapid rise of these materials in the scientific research community has led many scientists to begin to get involved in various aspects of carbon-based materials.
"The special properties of these new carbon materials offer unlimited possibilities for future electronic technology."
Practical Application in the 1990s
In 1991, Japanese researcher Sumio Iijima synthesized hollow carbon nanotubes for the first time in black smoke produced by arc discharge and determined their crystal structure for the first time. This milestone discovery not only marked the beginning of carbon nanotube research, but also triggered a large number of follow-up studies and experiments. By 1993, Bethune and Iijima independently discovered single-walled carbon nanotubes and proposed a technique to produce them using transition metal catalysts, which became the cornerstone of modern carbon nanotube technology.
Commercialization and technological innovation in the 2000s
After entering the year 2000, the technical application of carbon nanotubes has become increasingly mature. In 2004, Nature magazine published a photo of a single-walled carbon nanotube, marking an advancement in the scientific community's understanding of this material. The commercialization prospects of carbon nanotubes began to emerge with the demonstration of a prototype high-resolution display in 2005. In 2006, IBM announced the successful development of electronic circuits made of carbon nanotubes, once again proving their potential in electronic technology.
Future Outlook
In the 2010s, the performance of carbon nanotubes continued to improve, and even 9nm carbon nanotube transistors appeared, which were superior to silicon. With the development of the latest technology, researchers are finding more and more real-life applications, even using carbon nanotubes to build computers, which is the result of decades of scientific research efforts.
"The scientific journey has never ended. Where will the future lead us under the guidance of carbon nanotubes?"
Through this history, we not only witness the growth of a science and technology that began with imaging, but also see how it plays a key role in today's society. What we need to think about is how the development of carbon nanotubes will affect the future evolution of digital technology?
