Abstract

Films of carbon nanotubes are interesting for technical applications such as cold cathodes in field emission devices. We discuss experiments in which nanotube films are grown by a simple thermal chemical vapour deposition method from hydrocarbon molecules, employing the catalytic activity of deposited iron particles. Using an in situ catalyst preparation method starting from gaseous Fe(CO)₅, films of vertically aligned and non-aligned multi-wall carbon nanotubes can be synthesised. Nanotube film growth is discussed as a function of the growth conditions. Steps towards the formation of horizontally aligned nanotube films and nanotube patterns are presented. Field emission measurements demonstrate the high electron emission efficiency of the as-grown films.