Graphitic nanotubes, which include tubular fullerenes (commonly called 'buckytubes') and fibrils, which are functionalized by chemical substitution or by adsorption of functional moieties. More specifically the invention relates to graphitic nanotubes which are uniformly or non-uniformly substituted with chemical moieties or upon which certain cyclic compounds are adsorbed and to complex structures comprised of such functionalized nanotubes linked to one another. The invention also relates to methods for introducing functional groups onto the surface of such nanotubes. The invention further relates to uses for functionalized nanotubes.