Chapter 12, Problem 26QP

Interpretation Introduction

Interpretation:

“The structural or the bonding aspect of graphite and carbon nanotubes allows their use as semiconductors whereas diamond is an electrical insulator” is to be discussed.

Concept introduction:

The wrapping of graphene sheet around itself leads to the formation of cylinders with diameters on the scale of nanometres, which are called carbon nanotubes.

Single-walled nanotubes are stronger than multiple-walled ones.

Nanotubes are made up of carbon atoms only.

Semiconductors are solids that have a conductivity that lies between that of conductors and insulators.

In semiconductors, the gap between the conduction band and the valence band is small, so electrons may jump from the valence band to the conduction band.