Effects of Substrate Materials on Growth of Carbon Nanotubes by Chemical Vapor Deposition Using Metal-Phthalocyanines

The growth of carbon nanotubes by chemical vapor deposition of metal-phthalocyanine at 700°C was examined using various substrate materials. Intense growth was observed only at the micro-defects of Ni, Fe and stainless steel foils and only at uneven sites, such as scratches and edges of Ta and W foils. Partial growth was recognized only on the rough surface of porous Si. Nanotubes grew densely on the oxidized surface of an Al plate, similar to the case of growth on a quartz plate. High-density growth was inferred to be induced at sites with lower wetting for metal vapor.