Maximization of carbon nanotube yield by solid carbon-assisted dewetting of iron catalyst films

Rao, Rahul; Carpena-Núñez, Jennifer; Dee, Nicholas T.; Zakharov, Dmitri N.; Boscoboinik, J. Anibal; Stach, Eric A.; Hart, A. John; Maruyama, Benji

doi:10.1016/j.carbon.2020.04.064

Maximization of carbon nanotube yield by solid carbon-assisted dewetting of iron catalyst films

Journal Article · Tue Sep 01 00:00:00 EDT 2020 · Carbon

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.carbon.2020.04.064· OSTI ID:1649992

Rao, Rahul ^[1]; Carpena-Núñez, Jennifer ^[2]; Dee, Nicholas T. ^[3]; Zakharov, Dmitri N. ^[4]; Boscoboinik, J. Anibal ^[4]; Stach, Eric A. ^[5]; Hart, A. John ^[3]; Maruyama, Benji ^[6]

Air Force Research Lab. (AFRL), Wright-Patterson AFB, OH (United States); UES Inc., Dayton, OH (United States)
Air Force Research Lab. (AFRL), Wright-Patterson AFB, OH (United States); UES Inc., Dayton, OH (United States); Brookhaven National Lab. (BNL), Upton, NY (United States). Center for Functional Nanomaterials (CFN)
Massachusetts Inst. of Technology (MIT), Cambridge, MA (United States)
Brookhaven National Lab. (BNL), Upton, NY (United States). Center for Functional Nanomaterials (CFN)
Univ. of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA (United States)
Air Force Research Lab. (AFRL), Wright-Patterson AFB, OH (United States)

Further understanding of how nanoparticle catalyst composition influences the yield of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) is key to their scalable, cost-effective manufacture. In particular, the role of trace carbon deposits on promoting CNT nucleation from the catalyst has been studied recently by our team. Here, we show that deposition of solid carbon onto an iron catalyst film prior to dewetting effectively amplifies the CNT yield. In this work, we investigated the effect of the amount of C and Fe on particle formation and reduction, and growth kinetics using a combination of in situ techniques – Raman spectroscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and environmental transmission electron microscopy. We found that CNT growth rate and yield are maximized for specific relative thicknesses of C and Fe (~0.2 and 0.8 nm, respectively). The presence of carbon causes accelerated dewetting of the catalyst, and more rapidly forms a population of metallic Fe particles that grow CNTs at a higher yield. Additionally, these factors also cumulatively result in a lower incubation time and improved yield. Therefore, loading of catalyst particles with solid carbon is a straightforward and practical route towards boosting CNT yield and improving the efficiency of CNT growth by chemical vapor deposition.

View Accepted Manuscript (DOE)

Research Organization:: Brookhaven National Laboratory (BNL), Upton, NY (United States)

Sponsoring Organization:: National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA); U.S. Air Force Office of Scientific Research; USDOE Office of Science (SC), Basic Energy Sciences (BES)

Grant/Contract Number:: SC0010795; SC0012704

OSTI ID:: 1649992

Alternate ID(s):: OSTI ID: 1617109
OSTI ID: 1690126

Report Number(s):: BNL--216275-2020-JAAM

Journal Information:: Carbon, Journal Name: Carbon Journal Issue: C Vol. 165; ISSN 0008-6223

Publisher:: ElsevierCopyright Statement

Country of Publication:: United States

Language:: English

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