Catalytic chemical vapor deposition of single-wall carbon nanotubes at low temperatures.
We report surface-bound growth of single-wall carbon nanotubes (SWNTs) at temperatures as low as 350 degrees C by catalytic chemical vapor deposition from undiluted C2H2. NH3 or H2 exposure critically facilitates the nanostructuring and activation of sub-nanometer Fe and Al/Fe/Al multilayer catalyst films prior to growth, enabling the SWNT nucleation at lower temperatures. We suggest that carbon nanotube growth is governed by the catalyst surface without the necessity of catalyst liquefaction.
Cantoro
Mirco
M
Electrical Engineering Division, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB3 0FA, UK.
Hofmann
Stephan
S
Pisana
Simone
S
Scardaci
Vittorio
V
Parvez
Atlus
A
Ducati
Caterina
C
Ferrari
Andrea C
AC
Blackburn
Arthur M
AM
Wang
Kai-You
KY
Robertson
John
J
D000327:Adsorption; D002384:Catalysis; D003460:Crystallization / Q000379:methods*; D005740:Gases / Q000737:chemistry; D008422:Materials Testing; D008968:Molecular Conformation; D036103:Nanotechnology / Q000379:methods*; D037742:Nanotubes, Carbon / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D010316:Particle Size; D013499:Surface Properties; D013696:Temperature
D005740:Gases; D037742:Nanotubes, Carbon