Synthesis of Locally-ordered Carbon Nanotube Arrays from Patterned Catalyst by Self-assembly Technique

Site-selective growth of multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) from an iron oxide nanoparticle catalyst patterned by drying-mediated self-assembly technique is present. The ethanol solution of the iron nitrate was employed as catalyst precursor. The catalyst precursor was mounted on silicon wafer by dip-coating. After evaporation of solvent at room temperature, the catalyst pattern formed. The catalyst pattern was employed to synthesize carbon nanotube pattern by chemical vapor deposition of ethanol vapor after oxidation of iron nitrate. The patterned array of MWCNTs was obtained with a dot size of around 5 µm and the distance of about 25 µm. The present method offers a simple and cost-effective method to grow carbon nanotubes with self-assembled patterns.