Influences of NH3 pre-treatment and radicals on the growth of carbon nanotubes

A triple-layered catalyst (Al/Fe/Mo) undergoes considerable restructuring of surface morphology during NH₃ annealing prior to carbon nanotube (CNT) growth. The diameter (or density) of Al_xO_y–Fe clusters formed during the annealing is found to be dependent on the concentration ratio of NH₃ to H₂O present inside the chamber, which is confirmed by in-situ mass spectroscopy. The different diameter clusters then affect the types of CNTs (i.e. single or multi-walled CNTs) during the growth. Here, a growth model is also presented, where hydrocarbon radicals (C₅H₉, C₆H₉, and C₆H₁₃) generated from C₂H₂ pyrolysis (~ 800 °C) can be used as effective precursors to synthesize CNTs.