The effect of carbon input on the morphology and attachment of carbon nanotubes grown directly from stainless steel

Abstract This work presents a simple, inexpensive and scalable method to grow multi-walled carbon nanotubes (CNTs), using chemical vapor deposition, directly from stainless steel 316 mesh, without any pretreatment or the use of an external catalyst. A growth method is proposed based on the generation of particle-like growth sites, which are created as a result of chromium migration to the surface during heating. Acetylene concentrations were modeled within the reactor at various flow conditions and compared to experimental results to show that carbon input can be used as a way of controlling the diameter of the CNTs. All CNTs produced were strongly rooted to the SS substrate, however the larger diameter CNTs were more difficult to break and remove by means of ultrasonication.