What does the carbon nanotube ladder look like?

Carbon nanotube ladder is a kind of space equipment conceived by human beings.

Similar to the ordinary elevator, the difference is that its function is not to let passengers go back and forth between floors, but to send them to the space station about 36 thousand kilometers away from the earth.

Carbon nanotube ladder is a kind of space equipment conceived by human beings. Similar to the ordinary elevator, the difference is that its function is not to let passengers go back and forth between floors, but to send them to the space station about 36 thousand kilometers away from the earth.

With the acceleration of human space exploration, scientists are considering designing a space elevator to realize more convenient material exchange between outer space and the earth. Inventing a "space ladder" connecting the earth and the space station has always been a beautiful vision of many scientists.

Carbon nanotubes:

Carbon nanotubes (CNTs), also known as bucky tube, are one-dimensional quantum materials with special structure (the radial dimension is nanometer, the axial dimension is micrometer, and the two ends of the tube are basically sealed). Carbon nanotubes are mainly composed of hexagonal carbon atoms, forming coaxial circular tubes with several to dozens layers.

Keep a fixed distance between layers, about 0.34 mm, and the diameter is generally 2~20nm. According to the different orientation of carbon hexagon along the axial direction, it can be divided into three types: sawtooth, armchair and spiral. Spiral carbon nanotubes have chirality, while zigzag and armchair carbon nanotubes have no chirality.

As one-dimensional nano-materials, carbon nanotubes have light weight, perfect hexagonal structure connection and many abnormal mechanical, electrical and chemical properties. In recent years, with the in-depth study of carbon nanotubes and nanomaterials, their broad application prospects are constantly showing.