25: The Story of Carbon Nanotube Synthesis and Uses (feat. Dr. Mark Hersam)

Few materials in our world gather so much interest and excitement from the scientific community as carbon nanotubes. Their simple structure, yet wide range of mechanical and electrical properties, make them useful in biomedicine, the internet of things, and even quantum computing. While CNTs have already revolutionized materials science, their true potential is yet to be discovered. Before we introduce today’s guest, check out our MSE-themed merchandise if you want to support us or simply show off your love of materials science! Today’s guest is Dr. Mark Hersam, a Materials Science and Engineering professor at Northwestern University. In this episode, he dives into the world of carbon nanotubes. In this conversation, we discuss the following topics: The manufacturing of carbon nanotubes Using carbon nanotubes in biochemical processes The cost and waste in CNT manufacturing Carbon nanotubes in fiber optics How can CNTs improve energy storage? Carbon nanotubes in the Internet of Things Will CNTs lead to personal quantum computing? Special thanks to Matmatch for sponsoring this episode! Visit their website at www.matmatch.com Also, check out our free professional development guide for materials scientists and engineers! Join our Discord community! You can meet other passionate materials scientists and engineers from around the world, discuss the latest breakthroughs in MSE, share materials-related memes, and get career advice from experts in the field. For shorter segments and full video podcasts, subscribe to our channel on YouTube. For bloopers, audiograms, and interesting materials science articles, follow us on Instagram, LinkedIn, and Twitter. Feel free to message us on our social media platforms if you have any feedback or recommendations for future episodes, or email us directly at itsamaterialworldpodcast@gmail.com. Finally, reach out to David Yeh and Punith Upadhya on LinkedIn if you'd like to chat about the latest breakthroughs in MSE! Disclaimer: Any opinions expressed by either guests or hosts in this show are their own, and do not represent the opinions of the companies or organizations for which they are affiliated.