Method for enhancing growth of carbon nanotubes on substrates
AssigneeGovernment of the United States as Represented by the Secretary of the Air Force
InventorsBenji Maruyama, Gordon A. Sargent, Ahmad E. Islam
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Abstract
Methods for enabling or enhancing growth of carbon nanotubes on unconventional substrates. The method includes selecting an inactive substrate, which has surface properties that are not favorable to carbon nanotube growth. A surface of the inactive substrate is treated so as to increase a porosity of the same. CNTs are then grown on the surface having the increased porosity.
Claims24
A method for enabling or enhancing growth of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) on an inactive substrate, the method comprising:
- selecting the inactive substrate, the inactive substrate having surface properties not favorable to CNT growth;
- treating a surface of the inactive substrate to increase a porosity thereof;
- and
- growing CNTs on the surface of the inactive substrate having the increased porosity.
A method for enabling or enhancing growth of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) on an inactive substrate, the method comprising:
- selecting the inactive substrate having an ordered, crystalline structure;
- bombarding a surface of the inactive substrate with high energy ions or high energy particles so as to disrupt the crystalline structure thereof;
- and
- growing CNTs on the surface of the inactive substrate having the disrupted crystalline structure.
A carbon nanotube support material comprising:
- a substrate having an ordered, crystalline structure;
- and
- a surface of the substrate having disruptions to the ordered, crystalline structure,
- wherein the surface having the disruptions is configured to support carbon nanotube growth.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.