Invited Paper IS+NS+TR+NC-ThM3
Direct Observation of Carbon Nanotubes Formation from Selectively Fabricated Catalyst Particles

Thursday, October 23, 2008, 8:40 am, Room 310

Carbon nanotubes (CNT) have many advantageous properties with potential for diverse advanced materials applications if their controlled synthesis can be optimized. For some applications, such as field-emitting displays, in-situ deposition of catalyst particles is an important step for CNT synthesis. Post synthesis characterization of CNTs is frequently performed using transmission electron microscopy (TEM) techniques. Therefore environmental scanning transmission electron microscope (ESTEM) is perfectly suited for in situ observations of nucleation and growth of CNTs. A modern ESTEM, equipped with a field-emission gun (FEG), energy filter or electron energy loss spectrometer, scanning transmission electron microscopy (STEM) coils, and bright and dark field detectors, is a versatile tool for understanding their synthesis process at nanometer level. We have employed a modified Tecnai-F20 ESTEM to understand the catalytic chemical vapor deposition process for CNT synthesis. Time, temperature and pressure resolved digital video imaging is used to determine the effect of synthesis condition on their structure and morphology. Statistical analysis of the CNTs formed under varying synthesis conditions show that 95% yield for SWCNTs can be achieved at 650oC in 1 mTorr of acetylene using Ni as catalyst. We have combined electron beam induced decomposition (EBID) of nonacarbonyl diiron (Fe2(CO)9) to fabricate arrays of Fe particles that are catalytically active for the thermal decomposition of acetylene to form multiwall CNTs. Atomic resolution video images are used to understand the nucleation and growth mechanism from crystalline catalyst particles. Detailed phase transformation of the catalyst particle and CNT growth mechanisms from selectively fabricated Fe particles will be presented.