Abstract :
Three-step raising temperature process was employed to fabricate carbon nanotubes by pyrolysis of ferrocene/melamine mixtures on silica and
single crystalline silicon wafers respectively. Then the morphologies, structures and compositions of obtained carbon nanotubes are investigated by
scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), energy dispersive X-ray spectroscope (EDX) and electron energyloss
spectroscopy (EELS). TEM and SEM observation shows that on silica substrate, high-oriented carbon nanotube can grow compactly to form
continuous film on both frontal and cross-section surfaces, but on silicon substrate, only can form on cross-section surface. These carbon nanotubes
have much irregular cup-like structure, and with outer diameter varying from 25 nm to 35 nm. At the top end of carbon nanotube there is a catalyst
particle. EDX analysis reveals that the particle are iron cluster, and EELS spectrum indicates that the nanotube is composed of pure carbon. Finally,
the effect of substrate surface roughness on the growth behavior of carbon nanotubes has been discussed
