Past, present and future of fullerene nanotubes: Buckytubes

Carbon fibers having nanoscale dimensions have been known for well over a hundred years. In 1889, a U.S. patent was awarded to Hughes and Chambers for teaching a method for growing carbon filaments from 'swamp gas' - primarily methane - using a metallic crucible which, unwittingly, catalyzed the reaction [1]. Until the 1970s, the formation of such carbon nanofibers (also known as, carbon filaments or filamentous carbon) was mostly regarded as an undesirable side reaction in processes such as Fischer-Tropsch or steam-methane reforming reactions. Nanofibers were a nuisance: now we know better. Excitement over the potential utility of nanoscale carbon fibers has grown over the years as fibers with ever-smaller diameters and correspondingly greater structural perfection possessing superior material properties have been produced. Concurrently, however, the history of their discovery, production, and development has been somewhat neglected. We hope that the present chapter helps to clarify and puts into historical perspective some of the key discoveries and developments along the way toward the eventual widespread use of carbon nanofibers, and the realization that in their finest implementation these nanofibers are fullerenes, composed of perfect, continuous tubes buckytubes.