Engineering Vertically Aligned Carbon Nanotube Growth by Decoupled Thermal Treatment of Precursor and Catalyst

ynthesis of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) by chemical vapor deposition (CVD) involves decomposition of carbon-containing molecules and the consequent self-assembly of graphitic carbon at nano-particle growth sites.1 The distinctive orga-nization of an aligned “forest ” of CNTs is fur-ther governed by physical interactions among large numbers of CNTs growing at microscopically fantastic speeds.2 Manufac-turing an infinite cable of continuous CNTs would possibly realize dreams of CNT-based cables and wires having stiffness, strength, and transport properties exceeding today’s best metal alloys and advanced fibers. Mor