Direct synthesis of self-aligned single-walled carbon nanotubes on paper

A technique of micro chemical vapor deposition (μCVD) is reported for the direct synthesis of self-aligned SWCNTs on various substrates including plastics and paper. With the guidance of micro flow channels, self-aligned SWCNTs up to hundreds of microns in length have been collected. Both Raman spectral and transmission electron microscopy have validated the high quality of these SWCNTs. In conclusion, μCVD could be a versatile method to synthesize pristine SWCNTs for various applications.