Evolution in Catalyst Morphology Leads to Carbon Nanotube Growth Termination

Author

• Seung M. Kim, Purdue University - Main CampusFollow
• Cary L. Pint, Rice University
• Placidus B. Amama, Purdue University - Main CampusFollow
• Dmitri Zakharov, Birck Nanotechnology Center, Purdue UniversityFollow
• Robert H. Hauge, Rice University
• Benji Maruyama, USAF, Res Lab
• E A. Stach, Birck Nanotechnology Center and School of Materials Engineering, Purdue UniversityFollow

Abstract

A mechanism by which catalyst deactivation occurs during vertically aligned single-walled carbon nanotube (SWNT) growth is demonstrated. We have used both quantitative measurements of nanotube growth rates and ex situ and in situ transmission electron microscopy observations to show that termination of carbon nanotube (CNT) array growth can be intrinsically linked to evolution of the catalyst morphology. Specifically, we find that a combination of both Ostwald ripening and subsequent subsurface diffusion leads to loss of the Fe catalyst, and through direct observations, we correlate this with nanotube growth termination. These observations indicate that careful design of the catalyst and its support as well as the interaction between the two - is required to maximize nanotube yields.

Keywords

WATER; NUCLEATION; CARPETS; FORESTS; ARRAYS; MODEL; LONG

DOI

10.1021/jz9004762

Citation

J. Phys. Chem. Lett., 2010, 1 (6), pp 918–922 DOI: 10.1021/jz9004762

Date of this Version

3-2010

Recommended Citation

Kim, Seung M.; Pint, Cary L.; Amama, Placidus B.; Zakharov, Dmitri; Hauge, Robert H.; Maruyama, Benji; and Stach, E A., "Evolution in Catalyst Morphology Leads to Carbon Nanotube Growth Termination" (2010). Birck and NCN Publications. Paper 662.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1021/jz9004762