ABSTRACT
This chapter reviews carbon nanotubes from the viewpoint of applications and its analysis by electron microscopy. Since the discovery of carbon nanotubes in 1991 by using high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM), there have been intensive research activities in the area of carbon nanotubes, not only because of their fascinating properties but also because of their potential technological applications (1). Nanotubes show exceptional electronic and mechanical properties together with its nano-size diameter and hollowness. They behave like one-dimensional quantum wires that can be either metallic or semiconducting, depending on their chirality and diameter (2,3). There is increasing interest in applying carbon nanotubes for nanoelectronics (4), fieldemission display (5), hydrogen storage, fuel cell (6), supercapacitors (7), and gas sensors (8). Needless to say, the application of nanotubes depends on their structure and morphology, and thus the study of electron microscopy for this tiny material is essential in order to further functionalize nanotubes for human life.
