Abstract
Synthesis of single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWNTs) with well-defined atomic arrangements has been widely recognized in the past few decades as the biggest challenge in the SWNT community, and has become a bottleneck for the application of SWNTs in nano-electronics. Here, we report a selective synthesis of (12, 6) SWNTs with an enrichment of 50%-70% by chemical vapor deposition (CVD) using sputtered Co-W as a catalyst. This is achieved under much milder reduction and growth conditions than those in the previous report using transition-metal molecule clusters as catalyst precursors (Nature, 2014, 510, 522). Meanwhile, in-plane transmission electron microscopy unambiguously identified an intermediate structure of Co6W6C, which is strongly associated with selective growth. However, most of the W atoms disappear after a 5 min CVD growth, which implies that anchoring W may be important in this puzzling Co-W system.
Highlights
Single-Walled carbon nanotubes (SWNTs) have been attracting much attention during the last few decades due to their unique structure and ensuing interesting electronic properties, including ultra-high carrier mobility and chirality dependent electron conductivity.1,2 Various proof-of-concept applications have been demonstrated using the unique electronic properties of this material.3–5 Though tremendous progress has been made towards the realistic applications of single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWNTs), it is still widely recognized that the absence of techniques to control the structure/chirality of produced SWNTs has been a bottleneck for further development, for applications in electronics and optics.Chemical vapor deposition (CVD) has been proposed to be one of the most promising methods to synthesize SWNTs withA
Though tremendous progress has been made towards the realistic applications of SWNTs, it is still widely recognized that the absence of techniques to control the structure/chirality of produced SWNTs has been a bottleneck for further development, for applications in electronics and optics
The length of the SWNTs obtained from Co–W after a 5 min growth is usually several micrometers according to high resolution SEM and transmission electron microscope (TEM) observations, which shows not much difference from those obtained from pure Co
Summary
Single-Walled carbon nanotubes (SWNTs) have been attracting much attention during the last few decades due to their unique structure and ensuing interesting electronic properties, including ultra-high carrier mobility and chirality dependent electron conductivity. Various proof-of-concept applications have been demonstrated using the unique electronic properties of this material. Though tremendous progress has been made towards the realistic applications of SWNTs, it is still widely recognized that the absence of techniques to control the structure/chirality of produced SWNTs has been a bottleneck for further development, for applications in electronics and optics.Chemical vapor deposition (CVD) has been proposed to be one of the most promising methods to synthesize SWNTs withA. Single-Walled carbon nanotubes (SWNTs) have been attracting much attention during the last few decades due to their unique structure and ensuing interesting electronic properties, including ultra-high carrier mobility and chirality dependent electron conductivity.. Various proof-of-concept applications have been demonstrated using the unique electronic properties of this material.. B. Yakobson et al demonstrated that near armchair SWNTs are kinetically favorable during growth, which results in a greater length and abundance.. Yakobson et al demonstrated that near armchair SWNTs are kinetically favorable during growth, which results in a greater length and abundance.16 This model was later supported by B. Maruyama et al through an in situ Raman experiment.. Maruyama et al through an in situ Raman experiment.17 They concurrently considered kinetic and thermodynamic aspects of CNT growth and explained the different enrichments under different CVD conditions. Maruyama et al through an in situ Raman experiment. More recently, they concurrently considered kinetic and thermodynamic aspects of CNT growth and explained the different enrichments under different CVD conditions.
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