Reduction of furnace temperature in ultra long carbon nanotube growth by plasmonic excitation of electron Fermi gas of catalytic nanocluster

Abstract

In this paper, a novel physical method is presented to reduce the temperature of the furnace and prevent loss of thermal energy in ultra long carbon nanotube (CNT) growth process by catalytic chemical vapor deposition. This method is based on the plasmonic excitation of electron Fermi gas of catalytic nanocluster sitting at tip end of CNT by ultraviolet (UV) irradiation. Physical concepts of the method are explained in detail. The results of applying the presented method consequences to an appropriate tip-growth mechanism of the ultra long CNTs show that, in the presence of plasmonic excitation, the growth rate of the CNT is enhanced. Demonstration of temperature reduction and simultaneous increase in CNT length by UV irradiation with the proper frequency are the most important and practical result of the paper. All results are interpreted and discussed.