Confined Fe Catalysts for High‐Density SWNT Arrays Growth: a New Territory for Catalyst‐Substrate Interaction Engineering. Issue 47 (23rd September 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Hu, Yue; Zhang, Hongjie; Zhang, Shuchen; He, Chao; Wang, Ying; Wang, Taibin; Du, Ran; Qian, Jinjie; Li, Pan; Zhang, Jin
• Is Part Of: Small. Volume 17:Issue 47(2021)
• Page Start: n/a
• Page End: n/a
• Publication Date: 2021-09-23
• Subjects: Catalyst confinement -- High density -- Large area -- Single‐walled carbon nanotubes -- Substrate reconstruction; Nanotechnology -- Periodicals; Nanoparticles -- Periodicals; Microtechnology -- Periodicals; 620.5
• DOI: 10.1002/smll.202103433
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1613-6810

Abstract

Abstract: Great efforts have been devoted to searching for efficient catalytic systems to produce ultra‐high density single‐walled carbon nanotube (SWNT) arrays, which lay the foundation for future electronic devices. However, one major obstacle for realizing high‐density surface‐aligned SWNT arrays is the poor stability of metal nanoparticles in chemical vapor deposition catalytic processes. Recently, Trojan catalyst has been reported to yield unprecedented high‐density SWNT arrays with 130 SWNTs per µm on the a‐plane (11‐20) of the sapphire substrate. Herein, a concept of catalyst confinement effect is put forward to revealing the secret of remarkable growth efficiency of SWNT arrays by Trojan catalyst. Combined experimental and theoretical studies indicate that confinement of catalyst nanoparticles on discrete a‐plane strips plays a key role in stabilizing the small nanoparticles. The highly dispersive and active states of catalysts are maintained, which promote the growth of super‐dense SWNT arrays. By rationally designing the substrate reconstruction process, large areas of dense SWNT arrays (130 SWNTs per µm) covering the entire substrate are obtained. This approach may provide novel ideas for the synthesis of various high‐density 1D nanomaterials. Abstract : A catalyst confinement strategy to expound the catalyst‐substrate interaction for growing high‐density single‐walled carbon nanotube (SWNT) arrays is developed here. By rationally designing the substrate reconstruction process, catalyst nanoparticles with proper sizes and activity would be obtained. High‐density SWNT arrays (130 SWNTs per μm) that cover a 4 mm × 6 mm substrate are realized.