Semiconducting Carbon Nanotubes: Properties, Characterization and Selected Applications

Carbon nanotubes are challenging materials from the point of view of nanotechnology, because of their peculiar electrical, mechanical and optical properties arising from their monodimensional geometry. Here, the properties of carbon nanotubes are discussed, starting from their crystalline structure, in order to understand their optical, electrical and vibrational behavior. In the second section, the most popular CNT synthesis mechanism are presented, while the last section is devoted to the CNTs applications, focusing on photovoltaic and gas sensor devices.