Nanotubes – an Outstanding Set of Nano Particles?

Nano particles constitute a fascinating class of material which is still difficult to access. Modern developments in chemical syntheses, like template- and tenside-aided reactions, downscaling of physical lithography, and availability of high-resolution microscopy, like the scanning probe and electron microscopy, have opened doors into this size regime. The nanotube materials seem to be most attractive because of their large anisotropy and geometrical pre-functionalization. More and more routes towards nanotube materials are being explored based on quite different chemical compounds. Different growth mechanisms are discussed, the study and control of which is a key point of generating well-defined nanotubes. These may serve as hosts for future nano devices