NANOTUBES - AN OUTSTANDING SET OF NANO PARTICLES

Nano particles constitute a fascinating class of material which is sti ll difficult to access. Modern developments in chemical syntheses, lik e template- and tenside-aided reactions, downscaling of physical litho graphy, and availability of high-resolution microscopy, like the scann ing probe and electron microscopy, have opened doors into this size re gime. The nanotube materials seem to be most attractive because of the ir large anisotropy and geometrical pre-functionalization. More and mo re routes towards nanotube materials are being explored based on quite different chemical compounds. Different growth mechanisms are discuss ed, the study and control of which is a key point of generating well-d efined nanotubes. These may serve as hosts for future nano devices.