Method of growth of branched carbon nanotubes and devices produced from the branched nanotubes

A method of producing an alumina template having branched pores, comprising:

• producing a template by anodizing a sheet of aluminum in an acid solution at a first anodization voltage V1 for a first effective period of time to produce an array of pores at a surface of the aluminum, said first anodization voltage producing said pores with a first diameter;
• etching an anodic film produced by anodizing the sheet of aluminum at said first anodization voltage V1 and, after the anodic film has been removed, anodizing the sheet of aluminum at V1 for a second effective period of time to produce another array of pores at the surface of the aluminum;
• and thereafter
• reducing said first anodization voltage by a preselected amount to a second anodization voltage V2 and anodizing for a third effective period of time so that at least some of said pores branch into a hexagonal array.

A method of producing branched carbon nanotubes, comprising:

• producing a template by anodizing a sheet of aluminum in an acid solution at a first anodization voltage V1 for a first effective period of time to produce a hexagonal array of pores at a surface of the aluminum, said first anodization voltage producing said pores with a first diameter;
• etching an anodic film produced by anodizing the sheet of aluminum at said first anodization voltage and after the anodic film has been removed, anodizing said sheet of aluminum at V1 for a second effective period of time;
• reducing said first anodization voltage by a preselected amount to a second anodization voltage V2 and anodizing for a third effective period of time so that at least some of said pores branch into two pores each having a second diameter less than said first diameter;
• depositing an effective catalyst into said pores of said template;
• and
• exposing said anodized aluminum template with the catalyst containing pores to an effective hydrocarbon gas at an effective temperature, pressure and flow rate to grow carbon nanotubes in said branched pores.

A method of producing an alumina template having branched pores, comprising:

• producing a template by anodizing a sheet of aluminum in an acid solution at a first anodization voltage V1 for a first effective period of time to produce a hexagonal array of pores at a surface of the sheet of aluminum, said first anodization voltage producing pores with a first diameter;
• etching an anodic film produced by anodizing the sheet of aluminum at said first anodization voltage and after the anodic film has been removed, anodizing said sheet of aluminum at V1 for a second effective period of time;
• and
• reducing said first anodization voltage by a preselected amount to a second anodization voltage V2 and anodizing for a third effective period of time so that at least some of said pores branch into two pores each having a second diameter less than said first diameter.