Formation of Axially Aligned Polydisperse Nanocarbon Structures via Chemical Vapor Deposition from Cyclohexane with Ferrocene

Axial polydisperse carbon microstructures composed of vertically aligned arrays of multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) are synthesized via chemical vapor deposition (CVD) of cyclohexane with ferrocene onto a single-crystal silicon substrate. Their structural peculiarities are examined via scanning electron microscopy on a Tescan Lyra3 FEG system, atomic force microscopy on an Ntegra Spectra NT-MDT probe microscopy, by Raman spectroscopy. The abilities to purify synthesized carbon structures from amorphous carbon through oxidation with atomic oxygen and ozone are studied in order to achieve significant enlargement of specific surface area of nanotubes. The routes of application of polydisperse structures as catalyst supports, solid electrolytes, and chemical sensor supports, as well as absorption techniques of gas and liquid storage, are proposed.