A Novel Catalytic Synthesis Of Carbon Nanotubes In Alcohol Liquid

Well-aligned carbon nanotubes arrays were grown on silicon substrates by using a novel catalytic method in organic liquid such as alcohols. Un-equilibrium catalytic deposition gave significantly pure carbon nanotubes with very little soot within a few minutes in methanol. Scanning electron microscope images indicate that the nanotubes arrays are grown perpendicular to the silicon substrate surface with a significantly high density like a flower arrangement frog. This very fast and dense production of carbon nanotubes can be attributed to the great difference of chemical potential between the substrate surface and reactant liquid.