Carbon nanotube growth from titanium-cobalt bimetallic particles as a catalyst

Bimetallic particles of Ti and Co have been used to grow multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWNTs) to study the effects of Ti on the growth. The particles were generated by laser ablation and size-classified with a differential mobility analyzer. Diameter-controlled MWNTs were grown on a silicon substrate from 5-nm particles by thermal chemical vapor deposition using acetylene at 510 and 610 °C. Titanium has been found to enhance the MWNT growth significantly. There is an optimum Ti fraction for the growth, as confirmed by evaluation of the growth probabilities of MWNTs. A possible mechanism of growth enhancement by Ti is discussed.