Influence of nitrogen on the growth mechanism of decorated C:N nanotubes

Nanotubes like feather boas were synthesised by the decomposition of methane in a nitrogen atmosphere using a bias-enhanced hot-filament chemical vapour deposition technique. This new type of slightly nitrogenated carbon (C:N) nanotubes exhibits a vermicular shape. Graphitic thin foils growing perpendicular to the tube axis typically cover the surface of each C:N tube. High-resolution transmission electron microscopy reveals the graphitic structure to be characterised by strong disorder at different length scales. The role of small amounts of nitrogen, which affects the structural formation of the growing C:N tubes, is discussed.