title: Direct growth of aligned carbon nanotubes on bulk metals.
abstract: There are several advantages of growing carbon nanotubes (CNTs) directly on bulk metals, for example in the formation of robust CNT-metal contacts during growth. Usually, aligned CNTs are grown either by using thin catalyst layers predeposited on substrates or through vapour-phase catalyst delivery. The latter method, although flexible, is unsuitable for growing CNTs directly on metallic substrates. Here we report on the growth of aligned multiwalled CNTs on a metallic alloy, Inconel 600 (Inconel), using vapour-phase catalyst delivery. The CNTs are well anchored to the substrate and show excellent electrical contact with it. These CNT-metal structures were then used to fabricate double-layer capacitors and field-emitter devices, which demonstrated improved performance over previously designed CNT structures. Inconel coatings can also be used to grow CNTs on other metallic substrates. This finding overcomes the substrate limitation for nanotube growth which should assist the development of future CNT-related technologies.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Talapatra
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kar
authors.forename: S K
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Pal
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Vajtai
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Ci
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Victor
authors.forename: M M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Shaijumon
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kaur
authors.forename: O
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Nalamasu
authors.forename: P M
authors.initials: PM
authors.lastname: Ajayan
mesh_terms: D003460:Crystallization / Q000379:methods*; D046911:Macromolecular Substances / Q000737:chemistry; D008422:Materials Testing; D008670:Metals / Q000737:chemistry*; D008968:Molecular Conformation; D036103:Nanotechnology / Q000379:methods*; D037742:Nanotubes, Carbon / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D010316:Particle Size; D013499:Surface Properties
chemical_list: D046911:Macromolecular Substances; D008670:Metals; D037742:Nanotubes, Carbon