Nanoprobes and sensors

•Extremely small sizes, high conductivity, hig

mechanical strength
and flexibility nanotubes may ultimately becom
indispensable in
their use as nanoprobes.

•Nano probes-high-resolution imaging, nano-lithography,

nanoelectrodes, drug delivery, sensors and field emitters

•Biological molecules, such as DNA can also be imaged

with higher resolution using nanotube tips, compared to
conventional STM tips. 
•Nanotubes tips - surface manipultion.

•A pair of nanotubes can be positioned appropriately o

an AFM tip,
they can be controlled like tweezers to pick up an
release
nanoscale structures on surfaces.

•Functionalized nanotubes were used as AFM tips t

perform
local chemistry, to measure binding forces betwee
protein-ligand
pairs and for imaging chemically patterned substrates.

•Electromechanical actuators have been constructe

using sheets
•The nanotube actuators would be superior to conducting
polymer-based devices, since in the former no io
intercalation is
required.

•Nanotubes can be used as advanced miniaturize

chemical sensors.

•The electrical resistivities of SWNTs were found t

change
sensitively on exposure to gaseous ambient containin
molecules
of NO2, NH3 and O2.
 
•The response times of nanotube sensors are at least a
 Templates

•Nanotubes have been used as templates to creat

nanowires of
various compositions and structures.
 
•Filling and opening of carbon nanotubes in air:

•Filling of nanotubes is critical because of the wetting

characteristics of nanotubes.
 
•A whole range of experiments remains to be performed
inside these constrained one-dimensional spaces.
•Carbon nanotubes are easily opened by simple chemica
method of oxidation.

•Fullerenes, at the tips are more reactive than th

hexagonal lattice
of the cylindrical parts of the nanotubes.

•Hence, during oxidation, the caps are removed prior t

any
damage occurring to the tube body, thus easily creatin
open
nanotubes.
•Opening and filling of nanotubes in solution.

•In this methods an acid is first used to open the

nanotube tip and to
act as a low surface tension carrier for solutes to fill the
nanotube
hollows.

•Filled nanotubes can also be synthesized during the

growth of
nanotubes in an electric arc or by laser ablation.
 
•Electric arc- encapsulated nanotubular structures are
created in
abundance.
Others ways are:

•Chemical funtionalization.

•Intercalation and doping.

•Vapor chemistry.