Relation of carbon nanotubes to other carbon materials

A review of the close connection between the structure and properties of ca rbon nanotubes and those of graphite and its related materials is presented in order to gain new insights into the exceptional properties of carbon na notubes. The two dominant types of bonding (sp(2) and sp(3)) that occur in carbon materials and carbon nanotubes are reviewed, along with the structur e and properties of carbon materials closely related to carbon nanotubes, s uch as graphite. graphite whiskers, and carbon fibers. The analogy is made between the control of the properties of graphite through the intercalation of donor and acceptor species with the corresponding doping or carbon nano tubes.