Method of forming a nano-supported catalyst on a substrate for nanotube growth

A method of forming a nano-supported catalyst on a substrate, comprising:

• configuring a substrate with an electrode;
• immersing said substrate with said electrode into a first solvent containing a first metal salt, wherein said first metal salt is soluble in said first solvent;
• applying a first bias voltage to said electrode such that a nano-supported catalyst is at least partly formed from said first metal salt on said substrate at said electrode;
• removing said substrate from said first solvent containing said first metal salt;
• immersing said substrate with said electrode into a second solvent containing a second metal salt, wherein said second metal salt is soluble in said second solvent;
• and
• applying a second bias voltage to said electrode in said solvent such that said nano-supported catalyst is partly formed from said second metal salt on said first electrode, wherein said nano-supported catalyst has an active catalytic particle that has at least one dimension greater than about one tenth of a nanometer and less than about five hundred nanometers.

A method of forming at least one nanotube on a substrate, said method comprising the steps of:

• configuring a substrate with an electrode;
• immersing said substrate with said electrode into a solvent containing a first metal salt and a second metal salt, wherein said first metal salt and said second metal are soluble in said solvent;
• applying a bias voltage to said electrode such that a nano-supported catalyst is at least partly formed from said first metal salt and said second metal salt on said substrate at said electrode;
• conducting a chemical reaction process to grow at least one nanotube on said nano-supported catalyst formed at least in part from said first metal salt and said second metal salt, wherein said nano-supported catalyst has an active catalytic particle;
• and
• removing oxygen from said active catalytic particle contained in said nano-supported catalyst.