Substrate effects on the growth of carbon nanotubes by thermal decomposition of methane

✍ Scribed by J.W. Ward; B.Q. Wei; P.M. Ajayan

• Publisher: Elsevier Science
• Year: 2003
• Tongue: English
• Weight: 622 KB
• Volume: 376
• Category: Article
• ISSN: 0009-2614
• DOI: 10.1016/s0009-2614(03)01067-4

✦ Synopsis

A systematic investigation into the growth of single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWNTs) on thin metallic films deposited on various substrates was performed. Aluminum-iron-molybdenum multi-layer thin films were deposited on various substrates to determine which substrates promote the growth of SWNTs over multi-walled nanotubes (MWNTs) during the decomposition of methane gas. It was determined that the substrate employed as the supporting material for the Fe thin film catalyst has a strong effect on controlling the growth of either SWNTs or MWNTs, with clear trends noticeable. The ideal substrate for SWNT growth was a spun-on alumina film, while, single crystal substrates promoted the growth of mixed SWNTs and MWNTs. All remaining substrates grew primarily MWNTs.