Carbon nanotube network growth on palladium seeds

To exploit the advantageous properties of carbon nanotubes, tailored growth of individual nanotubes and nanotube networks is essential. Results are presented for a new method using palladium (Pd) seeds to ensure the needed selectivity. Palladium seeds are generated on different substrates from a special bath using electroless plating; the size and density of the seeds are tuned by varying the parameters of the plating. The use of laser-generated patterns on the surface ensures further spatial selectivity. Carbon nanotubes are deposited on the pretreated substrates by conventional chemical vapor deposition (CVD) techniques using different hydrocarbons as sources. Nanotube growth morphology on palladium-seeded substrates, investigated by FE-SEM and TEM, shows uniform structures in different density regimes.