Effect of Temperature on the Growth of Vertically Aligned Carbon Nanotubes from Palm Oil

摘要

The effects of synthesis temperature on the quality and quantity of vertically aligned carbon nanotubes (VACNT) were studied using high resolution scanning electron microscopy, and micro-Raman spectroscopy. The VACNT was synthesized by Fe catalytic decomposition of palm oil deposited on silicon substrate by thermal chemical vapour deposition method. The analysis shows that the growth rate increases from 3.8 to 5.5 μm/min as the temperature was increased from 750 to 800℃. The nanotube diameters were observed bigger at low temperature range. Smaller and uniform diameter (～15 nm) was found at 750℃ and the increment in diameter size was seen at higher temperature range. Smaller graphite Raman "G" peak width, low I_D/I_G ratio (～0.52) indicated higher crystallinity of the nanotube and moderate I_(2D1)/I_(2D2) ratio for second order Raman peak was also detected at synthesis temperature of 750℃. These results indicated that the optimum synthesis temperature for higher quality VACNT production was at 750℃.