Aluminum Nitride Nanotubes

Aluminum Nitride (AlN) Nanotubes,

Single-Walled, Double Walled, and Multi-Walled are tubular ultra-high surface area nanotubes. Nanoscale AIN Nanotubes are typically 10 – 100 nanometers (nm) with specific surface area (SSA) in the 10 – 75 m2/g range. AIN Nanotubes are also available in coated and dispersed forms. They are also available as a dispersion through the AE Nanofluid production group.

Applications

Aluminum nitride (AlN) is a wide-bandgap semiconductor material with exceptional physical and chemical properties, such as high thermal conductivity, electrical insulation, and biocompatibility. When this material is fabricated into nanotube structures, it opens up a range of unique properties and applications, particularly in the fields of electronics, energy storage, sensors, biomedicine, and materials science. AlN nanotubes (AlNNTs) are hollow, cylindrical nanostructures that exhibit enhanced mechanical, thermal, and electrical properties compared to their bulk counterparts.

The ability to manipulate and control the structure of AlN nanotubes allows for the development of next-generation materials with tunable properties, paving the way for their integration into a variety of advanced technological and industrial applications.

Applications

Thermal Management in Electronics

Heat Dissipation:

Due to their high thermal conductivity, are highly effective in heat dissipation applications. They can be used to enhance the thermal management of power electronics, microprocessors, and LEDs, where heat buildup can affect performance and longevity.

AlN nanotubes are often incorporated into composites for heat sinks and thermal interface materials, providing a lightweight and highly efficient way to manage heat in compact electronic devices.

Energy Storage and Batteries

Supercapacitors:

AlN nanotubes can be utilized in the fabrication of supercapacitors due to their high surface area and conductivity. Their ability to store and deliver energy efficiently makes them an excellent candidate for high-performance energy storage devices.

AlN nanotubes can be used as conductive additives in supercapacitors to improve the charge-discharge rates and energy density of the devices.

Lithium-Ion Batteries:

The high surface area of makes them ideal candidates as anode materials in lithium-ion batteries. They can potentially increase the capacity, cycle life, and charging speed of batteries, making them useful in advanced battery technologies.

Sensors and Detection

Gas Sensors:

AlN nanotubes can be used as sensitive elements in gas sensors for detecting toxic gases like NO₂, CO₂, and NH₃. The large surface area of the nanotubes facilitates interactions with gas molecules, and their electrical properties can change in response to the presence of specific gases, making them ideal for chemical detection.

Biosensors:

The biocompatibility of AlN nanotubes also makes them suitable for biosensing applications. They can be functionalized with biological molecules (such as antibodies or enzymes) to selectively detect specific biomarkers in biological samples, such as in medical diagnostics.