Carbon Nanotube

Carbon Nanotubes (CNTs) are a class of one-dimensional nanomaterials composed entirely of carbon atoms arranged in a hollow tubular structure. These structures feature carbon atoms configured in a hexagonal lattice, forming a layered, hollow cylinder. The tube walls are comprised of a hexagonal honeycomb crystal lattice, with the tube body appearing quasi-cylindrical. Typically, CNTs have diameters on the nanometer scale and lengths that can reach the micrometer scale or even longer.

Request a Quote Carbon Nanotubes List

  • Types
  • Properties
  • Specification Table
  • Hot Products
  • Advantages
  • Applications
  • Case Study
  • Ordering
  • FAQ
  • Latest Updates
  • Online Inquiry

SWCNTs vs. MWCNTs

Based on the number of layers, CNTs can be classified into Single-Walled Carbon Nanotubes (SWCNTs) and Multi-Walled Carbon Nanotubes (MWCNTs).

  • SWCNTs consist of a single layer of rolled graphene and are known for their exceptional electrical conductivity and mechanical strength, making them one of the most structurally perfect single-molecule materials.
  • MWCNTs, on the other hand, comprise multiple concentric graphene cylinders, each rolled into a cylindrical shape, resulting in higher structural strength and larger diameters. This makes them suitable for applications requiring high mechanical strength and thermal conductivity.

Core Properties of CNTs

High Mechanical Strength

With a Young’s modulus up to 1 TPa and tensile strength nearly 10 times greater than that of steel, CNTs are among the lightest high-strength materials known.

Excellent Electrical Conductivity

SWCNTs surpass copper in conductivity and can be engineered to exhibit either metallic or semiconducting behavior depending on their structure.

Outstanding Thermal Conductivity

CNTs offer thermal performance comparable to metals, making them ideal for thermal management applications.

Lightweight

Owing to their high aspect ratio and low density, CNTs can significantly enhance the mechanical performance of composite materials without adding much weight.

Typical Specification Table

A typical specification table is available upon request or in the product datasheet.

TypeOuter Diameter (nm)Inner Diameter (nm)Length (μm)Purity (%)Specific Surface Area (m²/g)Packaging Options
Single-Walled Carbon Nanotubes1.21.05–3099>6701g, 25g, 100g
Multi-Walled Carbon Nanotubes8–152–450–30098380–55010g, 25g, 100g
Functionalized Multi-Walled CNTs8–152–410–2098380–55010g, 25g, 100g
Aminated Multi-Walled CNTs8–152–450–15095>23310g, 25g, 100g

Packaging Form

Our carbon nanotube products are available in powder form, dispersion, or slurry, offering flexible options tailored to the user’s experimental conditions.

Storage Recommendations

It is recommended to store the product in a sealed, dry environment and avoid prolonged exposure to moisture or oxidative conditions.

Customers Often Look For

2.Double-Walled Carbon Nanotubes (DWCNTs)

5.Industrial Grade Multi-Walled Carbon Nanotubes (MWCNTs)

Why Choose Our CNTs?

Material Advantages

  • High purity, low impurity content, and excellent dispersibility
  • Controllable tube diameter and length with high structural integrity

Production Advantages

  • Manufactured via Chemical Vapor Deposition (CVD) with high precision control
  • Strong batch-to-batch consistency, suitable for repeatable experiments and industrial-scale applications

Customization Services

  • Surface-functionalized carbon nanotubes available (e.g., carboxylation, amination)
  • Dispersions or composite materials can be provided upon request

Fast Delivery & Global Shipping

  • Ample stock and rapid response
  • Worldwide shipping supported, with professional technical support services

Material Advantages

Production Advantages

Customization Services

Fast Delivery & Global Shipping

What Are the Application Areas of CNTs?

Electronics and Conductive Materials

Reinforcement for Composite Materials

Energy Sector

Biomedical Applications

Environmental Applications

Scientific Research and Laboratory Studies

Electronics and Conductive Materials

CNTs are ideal materials for high-performance electronic devices due to their excellent electrical conductivity and high specific surface area. For example:

  • Transparent Conductive Films: CNTs are used to manufacture flexible, transparent conductive films for devices such as touchscreens and displays, enhancing both conductivity and mechanical strength.
  • Flexible Electronics: Owing to their high flexibility and conductivity, CNTs are widely applied in flexible electronics, including wearable devices and flexible transistors.
  • Integrated Circuits: CNTs can be used in the fabrication of high-performance transistors and field-effect transistors (FETs), promoting the advancement of information technology.

Reinforcement for Composite Materials

CNTs are ideal reinforcement agents due to their high strength and lightweight nature. Key applications include:

  • Aerospace Industry: CNT-epoxy composites are used in aerospace components to significantly enhance mechanical strength and thermal resistance.
  • Sporting Goods: CNT-reinforced composites are used to produce lightweight, high-strength sports equipment such as tennis rackets and golf clubs.
  • High-Strength Plastics: CNTs enhance the mechanical properties and corrosion resistance of polymer matrices, resulting in advanced engineering plastics.

Energy Sector

CNTs play an important role in energy storage and conversion technologies. Examples include:

  • Lithium Battery Electrode Materials: As conductive additives, CNTs significantly improve charge/discharge performance and cycle life of lithium-ion batteries. For instance, TUBALL™ nanotubes are widely used in Li-ion battery systems.
  • Supercapacitors: CNTs enhance the energy and power density of supercapacitors, supporting the development of green energy storage.
  • Fuel Cells: CNTs serve as catalyst supports to improve the catalytic efficiency and durability of fuel cells.

Biomedical Applications

CNTs have shown great promise in drug delivery, biosensing, and tissue engineering due to their biocompatibility and functionalizability. Specific uses include:

  • Drug Delivery Systems: With their high surface area and biocompatibility, CNTs serve as ideal carriers for targeted drug delivery.
  • Biosensors: CNTs are employed in high-sensitivity biosensors for detecting biomarkers and biological molecules.
  • Tissue Engineering Scaffolds: CNTs are used to construct biocompatible scaffolds that promote tissue regeneration and repair.

Environmental Applications

CNTs are effective in pollution control and air purification due to their high adsorption capacity. Examples include:

  • Water Treatment Adsorbents: CNTs are used to remove contaminants from water owing to their high specific surface area and adsorption efficiency.
  • Air Purification Filter Media: CNT-based materials are utilized in high-efficiency air filters to improve air quality.

Scientific Research and Laboratory Studies

CNTs are extensively used in materials science and nanotechnology research, owing to their unique physical and chemical properties. For example:

  • Materials Science: CNTs are applied in the study of new materials with advanced electrical, mechanical, and thermal properties.
  • Electronic Structure Research: CNTs help explore electronic structures and photoelectric behaviors, supporting theoretical nanotechnology development.
  • Nanostructure Modeling: CNTs are used in simulations of nanoscale structures and properties, aiding in the design of novel materials.

What Success Stories Can We Share?

Discover how our products are applied in real-world scenarios through our case studies.

Case 1: Application of Single-Walled Carbon Nanotubes (SWCNTs) in Flexible Electronic Devices

Client Background:

A well-known domestic university's materials science research team focusing on flexible and wearable electronic devices.

Order Details:

High-purity single-walled carbon nanotube (SWCNT) powder; purity >90%, diameter 1–2 nm, length 10–30 μm, packaging: 100 mg.

Application Description:

The client used our SWCNTs as the core material for constructing conductive network structures to develop stretchable conductive films, which were then applied in the development of human motion monitoring sensors.

Feedback:

  • The SWCNTs demonstrated good dispersibility and formed a continuous conductive network when combined with polymers.
  • The conductivity of the resulting film reached 10³ S/cm while maintaining excellent stretchability.
  • The material maintained stable electrical performance even under strain >20%, and was successfully used in a prototype wearable sensor.
  • The client noted the stable quality and high repeatability of our product and has included it in their list of materials for future research projects.

Case 2: Use of Multi-Walled Carbon Nanotubes (MWCNTs) in High-Strength Polymer Composites

Client Background:

A composite materials technology company focused on the industrial application of lightweight and high-strength materials in the automotive and drone industries.

Order Details:

Industrial-grade multi-walled carbon nanotube (MWCNT) powder; diameter 20–30 nm, length 20–40 μm, purity >95%, packaging: 500 g.

Application Description:

The client doped MWCNTs into an epoxy resin system to enhance its mechanical properties and conductivity. High-shear mixing and ultrasonic dispersion techniques were used in the preparation process.

Feedback:

  • With the addition of 1 wt% MWCNTs, the tensile strength of the composite increased by approximately 28%, and the impact strength increased by about 22%.
  • Electrical resistivity decreased significantly, meeting the functional requirements for structural health monitoring.
  • The solution has been applied to mass production of drone shell components, and the client has established a long-term supply partnership with us.

Case 3: Research Application of Functionalized Carbon Nanotubes in Drug Delivery Systems

Client Background:

A biomedical research institute engaged in the development of novel nanodrug delivery carriers.

Order Details:

Carboxylated multi-walled carbon nanotubes (COOH-MWCNTs); purity >90%, surface –COOH content 1.5–2.0 mmol/g, packaging: 50 mg.

Application Description:

The client loaded anticancer drug Doxorubicin (DOX) onto COOH-MWCNTs to study its tumor-targeted release behavior. PEG was covalently grafted to improve water solubility and biocompatibility.

Feedback:

  • The functionalized carbon nanotubes exhibited stable dispersion in PBS and showed a high drug loading rate (>70%).
  • DOX release rate significantly accelerated at pH 5.5, indicating favorable tumor microenvironment-responsive release characteristics.
  • Cell experiments showed a significant increase in apoptosis rate in the treated group, confirming effective drug delivery.
  • The client acknowledged the use of our materials in their journal submission and plans to continue procurement for the construction of multifunctional carriers.

Ordering & Support

Product Ordering Information

Bulk ordering and sample requests supported

Available ordering channels:

  • Online form submission
  • Email orders
  • Telephone orders via sales representative

Technical Document Support

COA (Certificate of Analysis), TDS (Technical Data Sheet), and MSDS (Material Safety Data Sheet) available

Guidance on dispersion techniques and experimental parameters provided

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: What are the structural, performance, and application differences between your SWCNTs and MWCNTs?

Structural Differences:

  • SWCNTs consist of a single graphene sheet rolled into a cylindrical structure, with a typical diameter of 0.8–2 nm.
  • MWCNTs consist of multiple concentric graphene layers, with diameters ranging from 10–100 nm.

Performance Differences:

  • SWCNTs exhibit higher carrier mobility and quantum effects, offering superior electrical and mechanical properties.
  • MWCNTs provide greater structural stability, better thermal conductivity, and are more cost-effective.

Application Areas:

  • SWCNTs: High-performance flexible electronics, nanosensors, optoelectronic devices
  • MWCNTs: Polymer-reinforced composites, conductive coatings, thermal interface materials
  • Selection should be based on application, budget, and processing methods.

Q2: Do carbon nanotubes require pre-treatment before use?

Some carbon nanotubes, especially raw SWCNTs and MWCNTs, may exhibit agglomeration. It is recommended to perform ultrasonic dispersion before use.

For aqueous systems, functionalized carbon nanotubes (e.g., carboxylated CNTs) are recommended, as their polar surface groups greatly enhance dispersion stability.

We also provide dispersion agent suggestions and custom pre-dispersed solutions for user convenience.

Q3: Can you customize the surface functionalization or provide CNT dispersions upon request?

Yes, we offer customization services, including:

  • Surface functional group modification (e.g., –COOH, –NH2, PEG functionalization)
  • Water/oil-phase dispersions (with surfactants or polymer stabilizers)
  • Pre-mixed systems for composites (e.g., CNT/polymer concentrates)

Please contact our technical team with your application and performance requirements—we will tailor a suitable product solution for you.

Q4: Are your carbon nanotube products characterized for structure or purity? What are the typical testing methods?

We provide basic quality control data for each batch, and optional detailed reports on structure and purity, including:

  • TEM (Transmission Electron Microscopy): Diameter, layer count, length
  • Raman Spectroscopy: Graphitization level and defect ratio (ID/IG)
  • TGA (Thermogravimetric Analysis): Purity and residual carbon rate
  • BET Surface Area Analysis: Surface area and porosity characteristics

We also offer third-party testing reports upon request for specific research or industrial needs.

Q5: What is the typical loading amount of CNTs in composites, and what factors influence their conductivity or reinforcement performance?

Typical loading of CNTs in composites ranges from 0.1–5 wt%, depending on the target property (conductivity or mechanical enhancement) and matrix type.

Performance is influenced by multiple factors:

  • Dispersion quality: Agglomeration reduces formation of conductive networks
  • CNT type and morphology (higher aspect ratio favors network formation)
  • Surface compatibility: Stronger interfacial bonding improves mechanical enhancement
  • Alignment and processing method: Stretching or shear flow during processing affects CNT orientation and property transfer

We can provide dispersion advice and recommended loading ratios based on the client’s matrix material.

Need Help or Have a Question?

Call a specialist:

Send us a request