Studies towards synthesis, evolution and alignment characteristics of dense, millimeter long multiwalled carbon nanotube arrays

Pitamber Mahanandia,Somanahalli V Subramanyam,Karuna Kar Nanda,Jörg J Schneider,Bernd Stühn,Martin Engel

doi:10.3762/bjnano.2.34

Abstract

We report the synthesis of aligned arrays of millimeter long carbon nanotubes (CNTs), from benzene and ferrocene as the molecular precursor and catalyst respectively, by a one-step chemical vapor deposition technique. The length of the grown CNTs depends on the reaction temperature and increases from ~85 µm to ~1.4 mm when the synthesis temperature is raised from 650 to 1100 °C, while the tube diameter is almost independent of the preparation temperature and is ~80 nm. The parallel arrangement of the CNTs, as well as their tube diameter can be verified spectroscopically by small angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) studies. Based on electron diffraction scattering (EDS) studies of the top and the base of the CNT films, a root growth process can be deduced.

Highlights

carbon nanotubes (CNTs) have been extensively studied in recent years due to their unique structural and physical features, and chemical and mechanical properties [1] as well as for their potential technological applications
The length of the grown CNTs increased with temperature, and up to millimeter long CNTs were obtained at a temperature of 1100 °C
The formation of a significant amount of amorphous carbon was found on the top of the grown CNTs when the synthesis temperatures did not exceed 650 °C

Summary

Introduction

CNTs have been extensively studied in recent years due to their unique structural and physical features, and chemical and mechanical properties [1] as well as for their potential technological applications. We report the synthesis of aligned arrays of millimeter long carbon nanotubes (CNTs), from benzene and ferrocene as the molecular precursor and catalyst respectively, by a one-step chemical vapor deposition technique.

Results

Conclusion