The Variation of Multi-Walled Carbon Nanotube Growth Parameters and the Differences in Observed Physical Properties

Carbon Nanotube (CNT) research is a large part of modern nanoscience research. The issue with making CNTs is making them reproducible in a scaled-up process. The purpose of this study is to investigate the effect of growth parameters on the resulting properties of Multi-Walled Carbon Nanotube (MWCNT) arrays grown via Chemical Vapor Deposition. The growth parameter isolated in this study are the catalyst (ferrocene) sublimation temperature, and the presence of a seeding layer. The sublimation temperature was varied between 120 to 180 deg. C in intervals of 2deg.C, and then the resulting array length, density, height, and uniformity were characterized by Raman spectroscopy and scanning electron microscopy. In the second set of test, it was determined that plating a Silicon substrate with Aluminum and then coating it with Ferrocene dots on the surface contributes to longer and more orderly MWCNT arrays. It has also been observed that using a catalyst sublimation temperature of ~142˚C yields purer and more uniform MWCNT arrays.