The synthesis, properties and uses of carbon materials with helical morphology

Carbon nanostructures have been widely studied due to their unique properties and potential use in various applications. Of interest has been the study of carbonaceous material with helical morphologies, due to their unique chemical, mechanical, electrical and field emission properties. As such it is envisaged that these materials could be excellent candidates for incorporation in numerous nanotechnology applications. However in order to achieve these aspirations, an understanding of the growth mechanisms and synthetic strategies is necessary. Herein we consider historical and current investigations as reported in the literature, and provide a comprehensive outline of growth mechanisms, synthetic strategies and applications related to helical carbon nanomaterials.