Controlling growth of carbon microtrees Original Research Article

A rapid high temperature chemical vapor deposition method was employed to grow micro-sized tree-like carbon structures on graphite electrodes. Temperature dependence of the nucleation density of carbon micro trees and the influence of methane partial pressure (carbon source) on the growth rate of carbon trees were systematically investigated. Substrate surface effects such as mechanical polishing and introduction of a growth promoter such as ferrocene were also investigated. It was found that all three factors, temperature, methane partial pressure and surface morphology of substrate influence the growth of carbon microtrees.