Carbon nanotubes, or "bucky tubes" are made of carbon atoms that are connected as though they were sheets of graphite with the edges joined into a hollow cylinder. Our group chose to study this topic because of the many exciting applications for these structures. For example, researchers such as Cees Dekker would like to create electronic components from single molecules in order to make extremely small electronic devices (Dekker, 1999). Dr. David Tománek of Michigan State University is attempting to use nanotubes in combination with buckyballs to create a device to store memory. Nanotubes could also be formed into "nanogears" which could then become part of an tiny machine. Devices such as these could be the next step in making machines and electronics increasingly small. However, it is not yet known how to do this. Before any useful things can be created, scientists must determine the electrical properties of carbon nanotubes and how this will effect machines made from them.

Image at Left: Computer diagram of a single-walled carbon nanotube. Courtesy of Professor David Tománek, Michigan State University