Properties of Carbon Nanotubes: Defects, Adsorbates, and Gas Sensing

Carbon nanotubes and graphene have been a trending research topic in the past decade. These graphitic compounds exhibit numerous advantageous properties (electronic, mechanical, thermal, optical, etc) which industry and researchers alike are excited to take advantage of. Beyond the challenges of yield and controlled growth, there are a number of standing questions which govern some of the more fundamental characteristics of these materials: What role do lattice defects play in the adsorption of gas molecules on the surface of carbon nanotubes? How are the electronic states of the carbon nanotubes influenced by these adsorbed molecules? And how can we develop models to predict useful applications of this knowledge?