Deposition rate and morphology of carbon nanotubes at different positions in a CVD reactor

Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) were synthesized through the catalytic decomposition of a ferrocene-xylene mixture in a horizontal chemical vapor deposition reactor. The deposition rate of CNTs along the axial direction was measured. The morphology of CNTs was observed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The results showed that the deposition rate of CNTs along the axial direction first increased and later decreased, the position achieving the maximum deposition rate was influenced by the operating conditions. The morphologies of CNTs also changed along the axial direction.