Spray-gun deposition of catalyst for large area and versatile synthesis of carbon nanotubes

Spray gun deposition technique was investigated for large area deposition of nano-catalysts. In particular, we studied iron chloride salts solutions as catalyst precursor for the synthesis of carbon nanotubes (CNTs). Iron chloride salts are shown to decompose upon thermal annealing into Fe(III) oxide based species that make it suitable for further growth of various carbon nanotube structures. Depending on the spraying process, versatile synthesis of 2-D single-walled carbon nanotube network as well as vertically aligned carbon nanotubes arrays on functional substrates can be achieved. Such simple process for the preparation of CNT-based architecture opens new perspectives in the field of thin-film transistor and nanostructured electrodes.

► Iron chloride deposited as catalyst precursor by spray gun technique. ► Large area synthesis of carbon nanotubes arrays from as sprayed catalyst. ► Synthesis of single walled carbon nanotubes network from as sprayed catalyst. ► Thin-film transistor s obtained using as grown carbon nanotube network.