Novel Catalysts for low temperature synthesis of single wall carbon nanotubes

Abstract

Low temperature single wall carbon nanotubes (SWCNT) synthesis is attractive as it would allow their synthesis to be compatible with microelectronics (below 500°C) or biomolecular electronics (160°C). We show that the presence of oxygen, introduced in the form of metal oxides, allows metals not normally associated with nanotubes synthesis to become active for the synthesis of SWCNT using laser ablation. Further, the results show metals with low melting points can be used, enabling SWCNT to be sythesized at low temperature (down to room temperature). At these low temperatures their nucleation cannot be explained via fullerene nucleation. We suggest a growth mechanism that places a stable oxidiced ring as the root cause for the growth of SWCNT.