Structural and wetting properties of aligned carbon nanotubes films by pyrolysis of ferrocene and acetylene

Abstract

Aligned multiwalled carbon nanotubes films have been synthesised on plain silicon substrates by the pyrolysis of ferrocene and acetylene mixtures through thermal chemical vapour deposition system. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and Raman spectrum were used to evaluate the structure and composition. SEM images reveal that the carbon nanotubes grow perpendicular to the Si substrates. High resolution TEM image and selected area electron diffraction (SAED) analysis indicate that the aligned carbon nanotues have a bamboo shaped multiwalled structure and grow by a tip growth mechanism. The static and dynamic contact angle for water was measured on the aligned carbon nanotubes films. The films yield higher contact angle of 156·4° and lower sliding angle of less than 8°.