High-rate flame synthesis of vertically aligned carbon nanotubes using electric field control Original Research Article

The electric field controlled synthesis of carbon nanomaterials on a Ni-based catalytic support positioned at the fuel side of the opposed flow oxy-flame is studied experimentally. Carbon nanomaterials formed on the probe surface are comparatively analyzed for two characteristic operational modes: a grounded probe mode and a floating probe mode. In a grounded mode a number of various carbon nanostructures are formed depending on the probe location in flame. Observed nanoforms include multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWNTs), MWNT bundles, helically coiled tubular nanofibers, and ribbon-like coiled nanofibers with rectangular cross-section. The presence of various carbon nanoforms is attributed to the space variation of flame parameters, namely flame temperature and concentration of chemical species. It is found that the presence of an electric potential (floating mode operation) provides the ability to control the nanostructure morphology and synthesis rate. A thick layer (35–40 μm) of vertically aligned carbon nanotubes (VACNTs) is found to be formed on the probe surface in the floating potential mode. This layer is characterized by high uniformity and narrow distribution of nanotube diameters. Overall, the electric field control method demonstrates stabilization of the structure in a wide flame region while growth rate remains dependent on flame location.