Nanotubusten

Nanotubusten is a proposed class of nanoscale tubular structures in nanotechnology. They are hollow, elongated tubes with wall thickness on the order of a few nanometers and overall diameters ranging from tens to a few hundred nanometers, while lengths can reach micrometers. The walls are envisioned as covalently bonded lattices formed from carbon, boron nitride, or other two-dimensional sheets rolled into cylindrical geometries. The term is used in speculative literature to denote tubular nanostructures with such architecture.

Structural variants include single-walled, multi-walled, or porous-walled forms; ends may be closed or open, and wall porosity can be tuned to control molecular transport. Some designs emphasize porous walls to enable selective filtration, while others aim for compact, mechanically robust tubes for nanocomposites or nanoelectronics.

Synthesis methods are proposed to combine template-directed deposition, chemical vapor deposition on porous substrates, rolling of two-dimensional sheets, and self-assembly of nanoscale building blocks. Advances in material choice and defect control are central to improving performance and reproducibility.

Properties commonly discussed include high surface area, adjustable mechanical strength, and electrical conductivity that can be tuned from insulating to conductive by composition and structure. Potential applications span filtration and selective separation, energy storage and conversion, catalysis, sensing, and nanoelectronic interconnects.

Current status remains exploratory. Nanotubusten are primarily described in theoretical and early experimental studies, with challenges including precise wall architecture, scalable fabrication, defect management, and integration into devices. See also nanotubes, nanomaterials.