What is the difference between nanowires and nanotubes

What's the difference between graphite and diamonds? Both materials are made of carbon, but both have vastly different properties. Graphite is soft; diamonds are hard.

Graphite conducts electricity, but diamonds are insulators and can't conduct electricity. Graphite is opaque; diamonds are usually transparent. Graphite and diamonds have these properties because of the way the carbon atoms bond together at the nanoscale. Sign up for our Newsletter!

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Graphite vs. Cite This! Print Citation. Suggestions or feedback? Previous image Next image. Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

Search MIT. Search websites, locations, and people. Enter keywords to search for news articles: Submit. Browse By. Explained: Nanowires and nanotubes. Tiny filaments and cylinders are studied for possible uses in energy, electronics, optics and other fields. David L.