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Updated: May 30, 2026

Fabrication of Low Temperature Carbon Nanotube Vertical Interconnects Compatible with Semiconductor Technology
Published on: December 7, 2015
Time and temperature dependence of multi-walled carbon nanotube growth on Inconel 600
1Mechanical Engineering, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Troy, NY-12180, USA.
Abstract:
The growth kinetics of vertically aligned multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWNTs) on conductive substrates is investigated by synthesizing MWNTs at different growth temperatures and measuring ex situ the length of the nanotubes as a function of growth duration. A typical 'root growth' mechanism (saturation of MWNT lengths with increasing growth duration) was observed. The value of the activation energy (E(a)≈136 ± 5 kJ mol(-1)) of the MWNT growth reaction is suggestive of carbon diffusion through the bulk of the iron catalyst particle versus diffusion on its surface. These findings will help in optimizing MWNT growth on conductive substrates for various applications.

