Large-scale synthesis of novel vertically-aligned helical carbon nanotube arrays

Publication date: December 2016 Source:New Carbon Materials, Volume 31, Issue 6 Author(s): Ji-cheng Zhang, Yong-jian Tang, Yong Yi, Kang-fu Ma, Min-jie Zhou, Wei-dong Wu, Chao-yang Wang The large-scale synthesis of vertically-aligned carbon nanotube arrays with different helical pitches and diameters was achieved using the floating catalyst method. Results indicate that they are aligned perpendicular to the substrate surface and have a well-graphitized structure and their growth is accompanied by the production of pentagonal, heptagonal and hexagonal carbon rings. The hexagonal carbon ring is the basic structure unit to form the graphite lattice. When paired pentagon-heptagon atomic rings arrange themselves periodically within the hexagonal carbon network, helical carbon nanotubes are formed. The growth rate of the helical carbon nanotubes is about 4.5mg/cm2·h.
Source: New Carbon Materials - Category: Chemistry Source Type: research