Carbon Nanotubes

Introduction
Applications
Growth Techniques
Growth Mechanism
Shishir Rai
University of Notre Dame

Presented by:

What is a Carbon Nanotube?

CNT is a tubular form of carbon with diameter as small as 1nm.
Length: few nm to microns.
CNT is configurationally equivalent to a two dimensional graphene
sheet rolled into a tube.
A CNT is characterized by its Chiral Vector: Ch = n 1 + m 2,
Chiral Angle with respect to the zigzag axis.

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Armchair (n,m) = (5,5)

= 30

Zig Zag (n,m) = (9,0)

= 0

Chiral (n,m) = (10,5)

0 < < 30

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Why do Carbon Nanotubes form?

Carbon

Graphite (Ambient conditions)

sp2 hybridization: planar
Diamond (High temperature and pressure)
sp3 hybridization: cubic

Nanotube/Fullerene (certain growth conditions)

sp2 + sp3 character: cylindrical
Finite size of graphene layer has dangling bonds. These dangling
bonds correspond to high energy states.
Eliminates dangling bonds
Nanotube formation
+
Total Energy
Increases Strain Energy
decreases

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Types of CNTs
Single Wall CNT (SWCNT)
Multiple Wall CNT (MWCNT)
Can be metallic or semiconducting depending
on their geometry.

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CNT Properties

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CNT Properties (cont.)

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CNT: Implications for electronics

Carrier transport is 1-D.
All chemical bonds are
satisfied CNT Electronics not bound to use SiO2 as
an insulator.
High mechanical and thermal stability and resistance to
electromigration Current densities upto 109 A/cm2
can be sustained.
Diameter controlled by chemistry, not fabrication.
Both active devices and interconnects can be made
from semiconducting and metallic nanotubes.

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Nanotube Growth Methods

a) Arc Discharge b) Laser Abalation
Involve condensation of C-atoms generated from evaporation of solid
carbon sources. Temperature ~ 3000-4000K, close to melting point of
graphite.
Both produce high-quality SWNTs and MWNTs.
MWNT: 10s of m long, very straight & have 5-30nm diameter.
SWNT: needs metal catalyst (Ni,Co etc.).
Produced in form of ropes consisting of 10s of individual nanotubes close
packed in hexagonal crystals.

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Nanotubes Growth Methods

c) Chemical Vapor Deposition:
Hydrocarbon + Fe/Co/Ni catalyst

550-750C

Steps:
Dissociation of hydrocarbon.
Dissolution and saturation
of C atoms in metal nanoparticle.
Precipitation of Carbon.
Choice of catalyst material?
Base Growth Mode or Tip Growth Mode?
Metal support interactions

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CNT

Controlled Growth by CVD

Methane + Porous Si + Fe pattern
a)
a)

a)

d)

SEM image of aligned

nanotubes.
SEM image of side view
of towers. Self-alignment
due to Van der Walls
interaction.
High magnification SEM
image showing aligned
nanotubes.
Growth Process: Base
growth mode.

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CVD

Aligned MWNTs

Growth Mechanisms
Electronic and Mechanical Properties are closely related to the
atomic structure of the tube.
Essential to understand what controls the size, number of shells,
helicity & structure during synthesis.
Mechanism should account for the experimental facts: metal
catalyst necessary for SWNT growth, size dependent on the
composition of catalyst, growth temperature etc.
MWNT Growth Mechanism:
- Open or close ended?
- Lip Lip Interaction Models
SWNT Growth Mechanism:
- Catalytic Growth Mechanism

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Open-Ended Growth of Multi Walled Nanotube

Role of Hexagons, Pentagons & Heptagons

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MWNT: The possibilities

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MWNT: Lip-Lip Interaction Model

High Coordinated
C atoms

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Low Coordinated
C atoms

H-atoms

SWNT Growth Mechanism

Is uncatalyzed growth possible?
Simulations & Observations No!
Spontaneous closure at experimental temperatures of 2000K to
3000K.
Closure reduces reactivity.

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Catalytic SWNT Growth Mechanism

Transition metal surface decorated
fullerene nucleates SWNT growth
around periphery.

Catalyst atom chemisorbed onto

the open edge. Catalyst keeps the
tube open by scooting around the
open edge, ensuring and pentagons
and heptagons do not form.

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Conclusion
Their phenomenal mechanical properties, and unique
electronic properties make them both interesting
as well as potentially useful in future technologies.
Significant improvement over current state of
electronics can be achieved if controllable growth is
achieved.
Growth conditions play a significant role in deciding the
electronic and mechanical properties of CNTs.
Growth Mechanisms yet to be fully established.

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References
Topics in Applied Physics
Carbon Nanotubes: Synthesis, Structure, Properties and Applications
M.S. Dresselhaus, G. Dresselhaus, Ph. Avouris
Carbon Nanotube Electronics
PHAEDON AVOURIS, MEMBER, IEEE, JOERG APPENZELLER, RICHARD MARTEL, AND
SHALOM J. WIND, SENIOR MEMBER, IEEE
PROCEEDINGS OF THE IEEE, VOL. 91, NO. 11, NOVEMBER 2003

Carbon Nanotubes: Single molecule wires

Sarah Burke, Sean Collins, David Montiel, Mikhail Sergeev
http://www.ipt.arc.nasa.gov
Carbon Nanotubes: Introduction to Nanotechnology 2003, Mads Brandbyge.

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