May 14, 2002
Osaka Gas develops new carbon nanotubes

Osaka Gas has succeeded for the first time in the world in developing amorphous carbon nanotubes consisting of nano-scale hexagonal carbon planes with random orientation. Unlike the conventional carbon nanotubes with highly orientated graphitic carbon walls, the new materials have an amorphous structure with the specific surface area of over 1,000m2/g. Because of its wall structure, it is believed that the new nanotubes possess greater hydrogen storage characteristics, theoretically over 5 weight-percent. 3 weight-percent adsorption performance has been confirmed at the atmospheric temperature (with the hydrogen pressure of 10Mpa).
With the development of the new materials, Osaka Gas hopes that a scope of application of carbon nanotubes will be greatly enhanced, including hydrogen storage and other uses in the future.