Substrate-independent and large-area synthesis of carbon nanotube thin films using ZnO nanorods as template and dopamine as carbon precursor

In this study, we introduce a method for large-area and substrate-independent synthesis of the big-inner-diameter carbon nanotube (BIDI-CNT) thin films by utilizing polydopamine (PDA) as carbon source and ZnO nanorods (NRs) as sacrificing template for the first time. ZnO NRs with hexagonal morphology were coated with PDA films via the ammonium persulfate-induced polymerization of dopamine at neutral pH for avoiding the degradation of amphoteric ZnO at alkaline pH needed by the conventional oxygen-induced polymerization of dopamine. After carbonization in N2 atmosphere at 500 °C followed by ZnO removal, the hollow BIDI-CNTs with tuned wall thickness and hexagonal morphology were obtained. In addition, the obtained BIDI-CNTs were found to be N-doped. Furthermore, on the base of the outstanding substrate-independent growth properties of both ZnO NRs and PDA, the large area thin films of the N-doped BIDI-CNTs could be synthesized on various solid substrates, for instance, Al2O3, gold, fluorine-doped tin oxide-coated glass, platinum, silicon, mica, and quartz.