Recent Developments in the Growth and Properties of Carbon Nanotubes and Carbon Nanostructures: A Review

Abstract

ABSTRACT Carbon nanotubes, carbon nanostructures, and carbon metal composites are grown using microwave plasma–enhanced chemical vapor deposition and laser ablation processes. Iron (Fe), aluminum (Al)-Fe, and nickel (Ni)-Fe films with a thickness of 10 nm are used as catalysts for the growth of these carbon nanostructures (CNSs). It was found that the morphology and hence surface density of CNSs changed by varying the catalysts. The changes in the morphology were related to the electron field emission results carried out using a diode setup. The field enhancement factor (β) was found to be maximum (9574) for Al-Fe-catalyzed CNTs compared to Fe-catalyzed CNTs (7324).