Carbon nanotubes are allotropes of carbon whose nanostructure is cylindrical in shape.  These nanotubes have many applications, especially in the fields of nanotechnology, electronics, and architecture.  Often used as thermal conductors, these nanotubes also host unique electrical properties and are surprisingly strong.

Now these carbon nanotubes may serve as an efficient fertilizer as well. A plant biologist named Mariya Khodakovskaya worked with nanotechnologist Alexandru Biris at the University of Arkansas in this discovery.  In their experiment, they planted tomato seeds in a soil that contained carbon nanotubes.  The resulting measurements found that the carbon nanotube medium facilitated faster germination and growth than those without nanotubes.  The nanotubes were found to penetrate the out layer of seeds, providing water with greater entry into the seeds, accelerating germination.

The experiment studied 270 tomato seeds and a control group of 90 seeds.  The 270 sterile seeds were placed in a growth medium containing carbon nanotubes while the control group seeds were placed in a medium sans nanotubes.  Their findings showed that 30% of the nanotube-exposed seeds had germinated within 3 days, an extremely significant find as none of the control group seeds had begun to sprout.  Within 4 weeks, tomato seedlings exposed to the nanotubes had grown to twice the height of that of the control group.  This finding is still unproven, however, and both Khodakovskaya and Biris have additional plans to continue the research.

Fertilization is but one of the many possible applications of these carbon nanotubes.  The rest of this article focuses on the other uses of carbon nanotubes:

1.  Structural applications

The structural applications of carbon nanotubes are numerous due to their extraordinary strength.  Such applications include waterproof and tear-resistent textiles, increased concrete strength, fire protection, increased strength in sports equipment, and synthetic muscles.  The structural applications of nanotubes is a list that will continue to grow as companies innovate around the flexible molecules.

2.  Electromagnetic applications

Carbon nanotubes have unique electrical properties that allow them to be used in artificial muscles, conductive films, magnets, solar cells, transistors, displays, and many more.

3.  Chemical applications

Carbon nanotubes are used in many chemical applications, including filters of air pollution, the storage of hydrogen, and water filters.  In water filters, the microscopic tubes allow water molecules to pass through them while restricting larger particles.

The continuing research on the applications of carbon nanotubes will likely produce countless other uses in the near future, especially in the fields of nanotechnology and electronics.  The technology is not without controversy, however.  The possible toxicity of these nanotubes has been cause for concern.  Scientists are continuing to study the toxicity of these nanotubes, but the general consensus is that an overexposure may be a serious risk to human health.  For example, a study from the University of Cambridge found that carbon nanotubes can cause cell death.  Despite these worries, scientists continue to innovate, as the potential applications of these nanotubes are too vast to consider stopping their research.