Novel synthesis of branched carbon nanotubes

A chemical-vapor deposition method for forming branched carbon nanotubes comprising:

• providing a first precursor material comprising a catalyst for catalyzing the formation of a carbon nanotube according to a chemical-vapor deposition process, wherein the catalyst is capable of forming a carbide when reacted with carbon;
• providing a second precursor material comprising a dopant, wherein the dopant is capable of forming a carbide when reacted with carbon;
• mixing the first and second precursor materials together;
• vaporizing the precursor materials;
• heating the vaporized mixture of precursor materials to a reaction temperature in a reactor, wherein the carbide-forming reaction of the dopant is more thermodynamically favorable than the carbide-forming reaction of the catalyst at the reactor conditions;
• providing a carbon source to the reactor;
• vaporizing the carbon source;
• heating the vaporized carbon source to the reaction temperature in the reactor;
• and
• forming a carbon nanotube in the reactor according to a chemical-vapor deposition process, wherein the carbon nanotube comprises one or more branches.