Investigation of applying DC electric field effect on carbon nanotube synthesis

Abstract

ABSTRACTFlame synthesis is focused as a carbon nanotube (CNT) formation method in the present study. Although promotion of CNT formation by applying electric field to flame synthesis method has been reported, it is difficult to distinguish whether the promotion of CNT growth is caused by the effect of electric field on the condition near the flame or whether it is caused by other effects accompanied with electric field application so far. Therefore, the influence of the change in condition near the flame accompanied with the DC electric field application on the CNT formation was analyzed in this study. Moreover, the effect of the electric field application on the CNT growth rate and the carbon processing rate on the catalyst was investigated in the chemical vapor deposition method. In the flame synthesis method, the significant promotion of CNT growth is observed, whereas there is less effect of the electric field on the condition such as gas temperature and composition. In the chemical vapor deposition method, the CNT length increases with increasing the intensity of the electric field. Moreover, extension of the catalyst lifetime and increase in the CNT growth rate are found with applying the electric field. © 2012 Curtin University of Technology and John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.