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Carbon

From the ocean floor to the far regions of the universe, we find ourselves surrounded by the "king" of all elements – carbon. In nature, this element exists in one of three forms: amorphous (soot), graphite, or diamond (a gemstone). In texture and colour, it ranges from soft, black graphite to hard, clear diamond. Scientists have also synthesized new forms of carbon – fullerenes and nanotubes – which possess special properties not found in natural forms.

Carbon is not only present in the environment around us, but also, it is vital for all living organisms. This element is a constituent of DNA – life's "blueprint." Along with hydrogen, carbon plays a major role in organic chemistry, forming a vast number of compounds. Furthermore, carbon is continuously exchanged between species and their environment through the formation of carbon dioxide and various other compounds.

Fuels such as coal, petroleum, and natural gas are also chiefly comprised of hydrocarbons. Nanotechnology is a growing field where research, development, and commercialization of materials and devices are based on the scale of a billionth of a metre.

At the National Research Council Canada (NRC), researchers are exploring the production of single wall carbon nanotubes – cylinders of one-atom thick walls – for fuel cell applications, nanocomposite materials, chemical sensors, and nanoelectronics. These nanotubes have unique and unusual mechanical and electrical properties. Their hollow structures can encapsulate various organic and inorganic substances. They can also be conductors or semi-conductors, depending on their structure, and therefore have captured the interest of their respective industries.

The NRC is also striving to use nanotubes as a purifier for contaminated liquids by exploiting their properties to entrap the contaminants.