Rapid growth and flow-mediated nucleation of millimeter-scale aligned carbon nanotube structures from a thin-film catalyst

Growth of (vertically aligned small-diameter multiwalled carbon nanotubes) VA-MWNT films and microstructures from a Fe/Al(sub 2)O(sub 3) catalyst film deposited by electron beam evaporation is discussed. The flow profile over the sample mediates the supply of reactants to the catalyst and that pretreatment using H(sub 2) significantly affects the initial activity of the catalyst.