SCANNING ELECTRON MICROSCOPY OF ALIGNED CARBON NANOTUBES (CNTs)
N. M. Mohamed* & S. Muniyandy
Abstract
SCANNING ELECTRON MICROSCOPY OF ALIGNED CARBON NANOTUBES (CNTs)
- M. Mohamed* & S. Muniyandy
Electrical & Electronic Engineering, University Technology PETRONAS, 31750 Tronoh, Perak.
The unique structural and electronic properties of carbon nanotube (CNT), a nanostructured material has generated a lot of interest for application in a broad range of potential nanodevices. Most of these applications namely electronic and photonic devices would require high density and well-ordered nanotube arrays. With the use of ultra high imaging resolution field emission scanning microscope (FESEM) technology, the morphology of the aligned CNTs can be obtained, revealing the directionality and dimensions of the nanotubes. Here, micrograph of CNTs grown on Fe catalyst at 950°C by thermal chemical vapor deposition (CVD) method showed an excellent alignment of a uniform and high-density multiwalled nanotubes of about 30 to 50 p.m length on the substrate. Closer observation indicated a bamboo like structure throughout the length of CNTs. Tips of CNTs are found to be capped and of various asymmetrical structures. This structural analysis has provided the evidence of the alignment of CNTs produced by catalytic CVD technique. Besides high directionality, the arrangement in the form of sharp tips with narrow long nanotubes would be very much sought after for the development of functional nanodevices.
* Corresponding author: Tel. + 6(05) 3687661; Fax: +6(05) 3655905 Email: noranimuti mohamed@petronas.com.my
