Organized growth of carbon nanotubes on Fe-doped alumina ceramic substrates

Polycrystalline Fe-doped alumina (Al2O3) ceramics have been produced and used as a substrate for organized carbon nanotubes (CNTs) growth by catalytic chemical vapor deposition (CCVD). In these substrates, Fe3+ cations, which are the catalyst source, are initially substituted to Al3+ in α-Al2O3, instead of being simply deposited as a thin Fe layer on the surface of the substrate. The selective reduction of these substrates resulted in in situ formation of homogeneously distributed Fe nanoparticles forming patterns at nanometer-scale steps and kinks. These nanoparticles then catalyzed the growth of high quality CNTs, with some degree of organization thanks to their interaction with the topography of the substrate.