Controlling the morphology of carbon nanotube arrays: from spinnable forests to undulating foams

Journal Article · Thu Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 2009 · Nano Letters

OSTI ID:962354

Zhang, Yingying ^[1]; Zou, Guifu ^[1]; Stan, Liliana ^[1]; Hawley, Marilyn E ^[1]; Sheehan, Chris J ^[1]; Zhu, Yuntain ^[1]; Jia, Quanxi ^[1]; Doorn, Stephen K ^[2]; Htoon, Han ^[2]

---

1. Los Alamos National Laboratory
2. NCSU

By controlling catalyst pretreatment conditions, we demonstrate that the degree of spinnability of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) is closely related to the morphology of CNT arrays. Shortest catalyst pretreatment time led to CNT arrays with the best spinnability, while prolonged pretreatment resulted in coarsening of catalyst particles and non-spinnable CNTs. We further demonstrate the growth of undulating CNT arrays with uniform and tunable waviness by controlling the coalescence of catalyst particles. The CNT arrays can be tuned from well-aligned, spinnable forests to uniformly wavy, foam-like films by controlling catalyst pretreatment conditions.

• Research Organization: Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL), Los Alamos, NM (United States)
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE
• DOE Contract Number: AC52-06NA25396
• OSTI ID: 962354
• Report Number(s): LA-UR-09-01563; LA-UR-09-1563; TRN: US200919%%114
• Journal Information: Nano Letters, Journal Name: Nano Letters
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE
CARBON
CATALYSTS
COALESCENCE
FORESTS
MORPHOLOGY
NANOTUBES