Spring 2005
Instructor: Prof. James Hone
Department of Mechanical Engineering

Course Description: Basic science of solid state systems. Crystal structure, electronic and phonon bandstructures of nanotubes. Synthesis of nanotubes and other nanomaterials. Experimental determination of nanotube structures and techniques for nanoscale imaging. Theory and measurement of mechanical, thermal, and electronic properties of nanotubes and nanomaterials. Nanofabrication and nanoelectronic devices. Applications of nanotubes.

Prerequisites: Knowledge of introductory solid state physics (e.g. PHYS G4018, APPH E6081, or MSAE E3103) or intructor's permission.

Recommended Texts:

1. Physical Properties of Carbon Nanotubes, R. Saito, G. Dresselhaus & M.S. Dresselhaus. London: Imperial College Press, 1998
2. Carbon Nanotubes: Synthesis, Structures, Properties and Applications M.S. Dresselhaus, Gene Dresselhaus, Phaedon Avoris. Springer - Verlag, 2001

Syllabus (Sorted by Week):

1. Into: basics of quantum mechanics. Wave Functions, the Hamiltonian, operators, observers, simple solutions of the Schrodinger equation, atomic bonding.
2. Solid state physics: crystal structures, waves in crystals. Latices and basis vectors, Bloch states, dynamical matrices, density of states, quantization in low-dimensional systems.
3. Solid state physics: electrical and thermal transport. Boltzmann transport theory, electronic scattering mechanisms, phonon scattering mechanisms.
4. Nanotube theory: crystal structure and phonon dispersion relations. Theory of nanotube crystal structure and (n,m) nomenclature, acoustic and optical phonons.
5. Nanotube theory: electronic structure, optical properties. Electronic structure of graphene, 1D quantization in nanotubes, van Hove singularities, optically allowed tranistions, optical spectroscopy measurements
6. Nanotube synthesis. Laser vaporization, carbon arc, chemical vapor deposition, catalyst nanoparticles.
7. Nanotube structure and properties: scanned probe microscopy. Theory of STM/AFM, STM imaging and spectroscopy of nanotubes, AFM imaging and manipulation of nanotubes, scanning gate microscopy.
8. Nanotube structure and properties: mechanical testing. Mechanical testing of nanotube stiffness and strength, progress in composite materials.
9. Thermal properties and heat transport: theory and measurement. Specific heat, thermal conductivity, comparison of theory to experiment.
10. Electronic devices: nanolithography. Nanoscale device fabrication methods, including photolithography, electron-beam lithography, 'bottom-up' fabrication.
11. Electronic devices: FETs and SETs. Theory and experimental survey of nanotube field effect devices, Coulomb blockade and single-electron transistors.
12. Nanotube applications*: student reports. Topics for reports on applications include high-strength composites, thermal management, nanoelectronics, applications in energy conversion (solar cells, fuel cells), nanomechanical devices, scanning probe technologies, field emission displays, manufacturing techniques.

E6700 in the Columbia University Directory of Classes