Introduction: The fullerenes and carbon nanotubes

Introduction: The fullerenes and carbon nanotubes
At the dawn of the third millennium, scientists have made a discovery that will likely revolutionize the modern world.
Indeed, they have discovered a new type of molecule, not by their new composition but by their spatial arrangement.
Molecules of 60 carbon atoms forming a closed cage structure and fascinating properties which have not finished to amaze scientists.
In the wake of this discovery, the scientific community has not followed suit by taking the great adventure of fullerene. Scientists have made another important discovery, carbon nanotubes, the tubes only carbon compounds whose dimension is several nanometers. The scientific community already based great hopes on these "new" materials, share their unique intrinsic properties, they will open the way for a new industrial revolution already known by journalists as the "nano revolution".
What is it about these two discoveries opened the door to a new era, is now developing the idea that the next technological revolution will not macro but nano!
Definitions

Carbon nanotubes are long thin tubes composed of carbon atoms. They are produced from sheets of graphite that is wrapped to form tubes. Their diameter is only a few nanometers, so the quantum effects are very important.

Methods of preparations:

The nanotubes are made by burning carbon at high temperature and lowering thereafter, the temperature and pressure sharply. This process produces leaves that are rolled to make small tubes. This is made possible by the fact that the carbon in the form of graphite is made up of thin layers of atoms arranged in a hexagon and that these layers easily slide against each other.