Abstract
The transition of the internal structure in microwave chemical-vapor- deposited carbon nanotubes is investigated using scanning electron microscopy and high-resolution transmission electron microscopy. By controlling the thickness of the iron catalyst layer, a sequence of carbon nanotube films was obtained with diameters ranging from a few nanometers to over 100 nm. Experiments have established that by continuous reduction of the Fe layer thickness to <1 nm, single- and double-wall carbon nanotube films can be produced, whereas for an Fe film thickness <1 nm, multiwall carbon nanotube films can be synthesized. It was also found that for an Fe thickness ≥5 nm, interlayers (i.e., bamboolike or periodically compartmentalized nanotubes) were formed, while for an iron thickness <2 nm the tubes were primarily hollow. For an intermediate Fe thickness the internal structure of the carbon nanotubes was a mixture of hollow and bamboolike. A growth model which considers bulk and surface diffusions of carbon into andor onto the Fe catalyst surface is proposed to describe this transition and the internal periodic structure.
Document Type
Article
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1063/1.1946198
Rights Information
© 2005 American Institute of Physics. This article may be downloaded for personal use only. Any other use requires prior permission of the author and AIP Publishing. This article appeared in Journal of Applied Physics and may be found at https://doi.org/10.1063/1.1946198.
Publication Date
7-1-2005
Recommended Citation
Wang, Y. Y., S. Gupta, R. J. Nemanich, Z. J. Liu, and L. C. Qin. "Hollow to bamboolike internal structure transition observed in carbon nanotube films." Journal of applied physics 98, no. 1 (2005): 014312.
Journal Title
Journal of Applied Physics
