Controlling the site density of multiwall carbon nanotubes via growth conditions

This is the authors' abstract. We don't add key points for this paper.

We present two complementary methods for controlling the site density of multiwall carbon nanotubes (CNTs) directly as a function of growth conditions from 1011to107CNTs∕cm2. Several potential applications require significant spacing between individual CNTs. The first method shows that the site density varies with the heat of formation of the hydrocarbon gas used during CNT growth by thermal chemical vapor deposition. The second method demonstrates that the site density decreases with increasing residual stress of the metal catalyst∕diffusion barrier layers. These methods are combined for wide-range control of CNT site density.