Self-assembled carbon nanotubes grown without catalyst from nanosized carbon particles adsorbed on silicon

Carbon nanotubes films have been prepared by low-velocity spraying of carbon nanosized particles on heated Si substrate. Studies reveal that by properly choosing the deposition temperature, well-aligned carbon nanotubes are self-assembled from the particles without a catalyst. Raman scattering and reflection high-energy electron diffraction show that the tubes are bundles of single-wall nanotubes. (C) 2002 American Institute of Physics.