Formation mechanism and morphology of large branched carbon nano-structures

A comprehensive study using SEM, TEM, HRTEM and EDS has been used to follow the carbon nano-structures produced by the decomposition of benzene in a reduced pressure CVD process depending on the synthesis conditions used. Electron microscopy shows that a variety of carbon nano-structures can be formed including SWCNTs, MWCNTs, spherical objects and junction structures. Based on the microscopy data, we present a phenomenological growth model which allows the junction formation to be explained.