Continuous synthesis of well-crystalline VACNTs using CVD method for engineering applications

Abstract

The extraordinary properties exhibited by carbon nanotubes (CNTs) make them one of the most active research studies among the researchers. In this paper, the optimum growth conditions for the synthesis of highly crystalline CNTs in order to improve their physical properties were presented. Chemical vapour deposition (CVD) was used to synthesise well-crystalline CNTs with uniform orientation using camphor oil as carbon source and argon gas as a carrier gas in the presence of ferrocene as a metal catalyst. The effects of four critical parameters, namely gas-flow rate, temperature, reaction time and the ratio of catalyst to carbon source on the crystallinity of CNTs, were investigated. The FESEM and TEM images, supported by the plot of Raman spectra emphasised the morphological improvement of the grown CNTs. It was found that crystalline CNTs can be synthesised using CVD method via restriction of the effective parameters.