title: Catalytic chemical vapor deposition of single-wall carbon nanotubes at low temperatures.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Electrical Engineering Division, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB3 0FA, UK.
authors.forename: Mirco
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Cantoro
authors.forename: Stephan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Hofmann
authors.forename: Simone
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Pisana
authors.forename: Vittorio
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Scardaci
authors.forename: Atlus
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Parvez
authors.forename: Caterina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Ducati
authors.forename: Andrea C
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Ferrari
authors.forename: Arthur M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Blackburn
authors.forename: Kai-You
authors.initials: KY
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Robertson
mesh_terms: 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
chemical_list: D005740:Gases; D037742:Nanotubes, Carbon