Synthesis of multi-walled carbon nanotubes on nichrome and nickel by using rapid thermal processing furnace

A new method has been evolved to synthesize multi wall carbon nano tubes (MWCNTs) by using rapid thermal process furnace. Nichrome and nickel catalysts are deposited on silicon substrates by electron beam evaporation technique. Acetylene and argon gases are used, in the synthesis of MWCNTs, as precursor and carrier gas respectively, at a temperature of 750 °C for 30 min. To analyze the MWCNTs, synthesized in the present study, they are subjected to various characterizations namely Raman spectroscopy, Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscopy (FESEM), Energy Dispersive X-ray Analysis (EDXA) and High Resolution Transmission Electron Microscopy (HRTEM). FESEM images revealed that carbon nanotubes have diameter ranging from 25 to 75 nm and HRTEM showed that these nanotubes have up to 80 number of walls. Nichrome is the preferred catalyst in terms of yield and growth uniformity of MWCNTs, based on the FESEM and EDXA.