Talk:Silicon nanotube

Lunar space elevator
A possible application for silicon nanotubes is the lunar space elevator. The lower gravity of the Moon means that normal materials like Kevlar can be used to construct the ribbon. Kevlar and its rivals are made out of carbon, unfortunately there is very little carbon on the Moon. Consequently either the entire ribbon would have to be lifted off the Earth, which is very expensive, or the manufacture could use a material that is available on the Moon. Silicon compounds are plentiful on the Moon. To determine the viability of this application the strength of silicon nanotubes and cables made from them needs measuring.

Andrew Swallow (talk) 10:29, 11 December 2009 (UTC)


 * One difference between silicon nanotubes and CNT is that for CNT, the hexagonal bond angles will always result in bonds that zigzag along the tube axis. Silicon nanotubes have 90 degree bond angles which allow the bonds to be parallel with the tube axis like this: http://media.treehugger.com/assets/images/2011/10/silicon-nanotubes-image-01.jpg
 * Silica nanofiber is made from silica and oxygen, both of which are common. It is typically 10-20 GPa and can be produced by the ton: http://www.orc.soton.ac.uk/nanofibres.html Nydoc1 (talk) 03:21, 21 January 2013 (UTC)Nydoc1

Silicon Nanotubes as probabilistic routes for a quantum computer
Silicon Nanotubes are more stable in computing. Carbon nanotubes are better though for biological use. The main article doesn't mention the probabilistic routes (as key part of the wavefunctional field). — Preceding unsigned comment added by 2.84.219.136 (talk) 14:34, 20 May 2015 (UTC)