Method of and apparatus for synthesizing highly oriented, aligned carbon nanotubes from an organic liquid

An apparatus for synthesizing oriented, aligned carbon nanotubes from an alcohol comprising:

• a Si substrate with a buildup thereon of a thin film or insular particles composed of at least one metallic element;
• a liquid tank for retaining an alcohol;
• a water cooling means for cooling the liquid tank from its outside for cooling said alcohol so as to maintain said alcohol at a temperature lower than a boiling point thereof;
• a condensing means comprising a plurality of water cooling tubes for cooling and condensing vapor from said alcohol for condensing said alcohol becoming gaseous in phase into its original liquid phase for return into said liquid tank;
• a substrate holding means having an electrode means for passing an electric current through said substrate in said alcohol;
• an inert gas inlet means for removing air from said apparatus;
• a tank sealing means for sealing said liquid tank to prevent said alcohol becoming gaseous in phase from flying off;
• and
• a temperature measuring means to measure the temperature of the substrate,
• wherein said Si substrate with the buildup thereon of the thin film or insular particles is heated by said electric current to a temperature, thereby providing a temperature gradient from said Si substrate surface toward said alcohol,
• wherein said thin film or insular particles is a catalyst for synthesizing said carbon nanotubes, and
• said carbon nanotubes are synthesized on the surface of said thin film or insular particles which is built up on said Si substrate.