Liquid Phase Electrochemical Route to Carbon Nanotubes at Room Temperature

Abstract

A novel room temperature synthesis of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) by liquid phase deposition of methanol is firstly reported. Nanotube samples were characterized with field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and Raman spectroscopy. FESEM micrographs revealed that nanotubes with diameter in the range of 20-200 nm were grown at room temperature. HR-TEM images and electron diffraction pattern demonstrated that the as-grown nanotubes were multi-wall carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs). Furthermore, Raman spectra of the nanotubes showed two strong characteristic vibrational modes at 1352 cm-1 and 1585 cm-1, Raman peaks commonly found for carbon nanotubes