Page 10 - Carbon Nanotubes

X Preface

From an experimental point of view, definitive The final section of the volume contains three
measurements on the properties of individual carbon complementary review articles on carbon nano-
nanotubes, characterized with regard to diameter and particles. The first by Y. Saito reviews the state of
chiral angle, have proven to be very difficult to carry knowledge about carbon cages encapsulating metal
out. Thus, most of the experimental data available and carbide phases. The structure of onion-like
thus far relate to multi-wall carbon nanotubes and to graphite particles, the spherical analog of the cylin-
bundles of nanotubes. Thus, limited experimental drical carbon nanotubes, is reviewed by D. Ugarte,
information is available regarding quantum effects the dominant researcher in this area. The volume
for carbon nanotubes in the one-dimensional limit. concludes with a review of metal-coated fullerenes by
A review of structural, transport, and susceptibility T. P. Martin and co-workers, who pioneered studies
measurements on carbon nanotubes and related on this topic.
materials is given by Wang et al., where the inter- The guest editors have assembled an excellent set
relation between structure and properties is empha- of reviews and research articles covering all aspects of
sized. Special attention is drawn in the article by the field of carbon nanotubes. The reviews are pre-
Issi et al. to quantum effects in carbon nanotubes, as sented in a clear and concise form by many of the
observed in scanning tunneling spectroscopy, trans- leading researchers in the field. It is hoped that this
port studies and magnetic susceptibility measure- collection of review articles provides a convenient
ments. The vibrational modes of carbon nanotubes reference for the present status of research on carbon
is reviewed in the article by Eklund et al. from both nanotubes, and serves to stimulate future work in the
a theoretical standpoint and a summary of spec- field.
troscopy studies, while the mechanical that thermal M. S. DRESSELHAUS
properties of carbon nanotubes are reviewed in the
article by Ruoff and Lorents. The brief report by REFERENCES
Despres et al. provides further evidence for the 1. H. W. Kroto, Carbon 30, 1139 (1992).
flexibility of graphene layers in carbon nanotubes. 2. S. Iijima, Nature (London) 354, 56 (1991).