Direct growth of carbon nanotubes on Ar ion bombarded AISI 304 stainless steel substrates

Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) were directly grown on Ar ion bombarded AISI 304 stainless steel (SS) by chemical vapor deposition using H2, NH3 and C2H2 as gas precursors at 800 °C. Different ion doses and energies were used prior to pre-treatment with H2 and NH3 at 750 °C. The effects of the ion dose and energy on the growth of CNTs were investigated. It was found that the density of the grown CNTs strongly depends on the ion dose and energy, both of which are responsible for modifying the grain structure and increasing the roughness of the SS surface.