Methods for carbon nanotubes synthesis—review

TLDR

Carbon nanotubes have attracted research for over fifteen years due to their unique properties and potential applications, driving nanotechnology to develop synthesis methods that produce CNTs with suitable parameters. This review surveys the history, types, structure, and synthesis techniques of CNTs, focusing on arc discharge, laser ablation, and chemical vapor deposition. The authors detail diverse synthesis routes, including gas‑phase arc discharge, laser ablation, chemical vapor deposition, liquid‑phase arc discharge, lithographically patterned catalyst deposition, and nanoporous anodized aluminum oxide templates for vertically aligned CNT growth.

Abstract

Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) have been under scientific investigation for more than fifteen years because of their unique properties that predestine them for many potential applications. The field of nanotechnology and nanoscience push their investigation forward to produce CNTs with suitable parameters for future applications. It is evident that new approaches of their synthesis need to be developed and optimized. In this paper we review history, types, structure and especially the different synthesis methods for CNTs preparation including arc discharge, laser ablation and chemical vapour deposition. Moreover, we mention some rarely used ways of arc discharge deposition which involves arc discharge in liquid solutions in contrary to standard used deposition in a gas atmosphere. In addition, the methods for uniform vertically aligned CNTs synthesis using lithographic techniques for catalyst deposition as well as a method utilizing a nanoporous anodized aluminium oxide as a pattern for selective CNTs growth are reported too.