12 páginas, 8 figuras.-- El pdf del artículo es la versión pre-print.This contribution provides a comprehensive overview of the experimental and theoretical
topics related to the introduction of nitrogen into both single- and multi-walled carbon
nanotube structures. It covers the synthesis, characterization and analysis of the potential
applications of carbon nanotubes based on intrinsic changes in properties induced upon
nitrogen incorporation. The reason why nitrogen-doped carbon nanotubes are the target
of several investigations is explained not only from the state-of-the-art research point of
view but special attention is given to present the results available in the literature weighed
against the ideal materials expected for applications. A comparison with other nitrogendoped
carbon systems is also provided.R.A. acknowledges the financial support of the European Commission under the 6 Framework Programme (STREP Project BNC Tubes) Contract (Number NMp4-CT-2006-033350).
M.H.R., P.A. and T.P acknowledge the financial support of
the following project DFG PI 440/4-6. A.R. acknowledges funding by the Spanish MEC
(FIS2007-65702-C02-01), ‘‘Grupos Consolidados UPV/EHU del
Gobierno Vasco’’ (IT-319-07), and the European Community
through e-I3 ETSF project (Contract Number 211956), DNANANODEVICES
(IST-2006-029192) and NANO-ERA CHEMISTRY.Peer reviewe
