A nanotube can be made from various materials such as carbon, boron or silicon. Each of these has its own applications to new technologies.

Carbon nanotubes, for instance, have been found useful as an agent for certain kinds of coatings for consumer products. In addition, carbon nanotubes (and silicon nanotubes) can be useful as a conductor in nanoscale projects or as an agent for measuring certain kinds of frequencies.

Although nanotubes have a lot of potential, like other nanoscale projects, there are big questions about risks concerning coherence or cohesiveness, such as whether nanomaterials are safe and whether they may stay together or break off into tiny airborne bits. These are some of the issues about nanotubes and other nanomaterials as companies look at bringing new products and services to market that use nanotechnology.