Growth of a superhydrophobic multi-walled carbon nanotube forest on quartz using flow-vapor-deposited copper catalysts. (November 2017)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Hsiao, Chung-Hsuan; Lin, Jarrn-Horng
• Is Part Of: Carbon. Volume 124(2017)
• Page Start: 637
• Page End: 641
• Publication Date: 2017-11
• Subjects: Carbon -- Periodicals; Carbone -- Périodiques; Koolstof; Toepassingen; Electronic journals; 546.681
• DOI: 10.1016/j.carbon.2017.09.023
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0008-6223

Abstract

Abstract: Although studies on carbon nanotube (CNT) growth have made great advancements, direct growth of highly dense CNTs on desired substrates or positions remains an important challenge. Herein, we report a simple method to directly fabricate a CNT forest on a quartz surface using a copper catalyst at 850 °C under a stream of argon-diluted ethanol. Copper nanoparticles (NPs) are used as catalysts, which are generated through flow-vapor-deposition of copper (II) acetylacetonate on a thermal-treated SiO2 (quartz) or Si (silicon wafer) surface. Dense tangled CNT forms on the quartz surface. However, when a silicon wafer is used as the substrate, the only product is a carbon-covered copper NPs instead of CNTs. The growth yield of CNTs is approximately 10.5 g CNT/g Cu⋅h as characterized by thermogravimetric analysis, which is remarkably high compared with those achieved by conventional copper-based catalysts. The stronger metal-support interaction of copper NPs with quartz is suggested to be the key factor for CNT growth. Bamboo-like MWCNTs (BMWCNTs) are the main structures formed through transportation of copper NPs during CNT formation as evidenced by HR-TEM micrographs. Moreover, CNT-grown quartz has superhydrophobic features with a contact angle of 154°, revealing its promising application in self-cleaning coatings. Graphical abstract: