Carbon nanobud

In nanotechnology, a carbon nanobud is a material that combines carbon nanotubes and spheroidal fullerenes, both allotropes of carbon, forming "buds" attached to the tubes. Carbon nanobuds were discovered and synthesized in 2006.

In this material, fullerenes are bonded with covalent bonds to the outer sidewalls of the underlying nanotube. Consequently, nanobuds exhibit properties of carbon nanotubes and fullerenes. The mechanical properties and the electrical conductivity of the nanobuds are similar to those of carbon nanotubes.

Canatu Oy, a Finnish company, claims the intellectual property rights for nanobuds, its synthesis processes, and several applications.