Carbon-based materials and their applications constitute a burgeoning topic of scientific research among scientists and engineers drawn to the field from diverse areas such as applied physics, materials science, biology, mechanics, electronics and engineering. Further development of existing materials, advances in applications, and discovery of new forms of carbon are the themes addressed by the frontier research in these fields. This book covers all the fundamental topics concerned with amorphous and crystalline C-based materials, such as diamond, diamond-like carbon, carbon alloys, and carbon nanotubes, providing the first comprehensive state-of-the-art review of this fast evolving field of research in carbon materials.

G. Messina and S. Santangelo are working at the University of Reggio Calabria (Italy) since 1988. Presently, they are Physics Professors at the Engineering Faculty of the University. Their research work has been always carried out in the field of Condensed Matter Physics. From more than 10 years their scientific interest is focussed on the analysis of C-based materials by Raman spectroscopy. They are engaged in several relevant research projects.