The role of the catalytic particle in the growth of carbon nanotubes by plasma enhanced chemical vapor deposition

Vertically aligned carbon nanotubes were synthesized by plasma enhanced chemical vapor deposition using nickel as a metal catalyst. High resolution transmission electron microscopy analysis of the particle found at the tip of the tubes reveals the presence of a metastable carbide Ni3C. Since the carbide is found to decompose upon annealing at 600 degreesC, we suggest that Ni3C is formed after the growth is stopped due to the rapid cooling of the Ni-C interstitial solid solution. A detailed description of the tip growth mechanism is given, that accounts for the composite structure of the tube walls. The shape and size of the catalytic particle determine the concentration gradient that drives the diffusion of C atoms across and though the metal. (C) 2004 American Institute of Physics.

Formation of metastable liquid catalyst during subeutectic growth of germanium nanowires.

Lattice-resolved, video-rate environmental transmission electron microscopy shows the formation of a liquid Au-Ge layer on sub-30-nm Au catalyst crystals and the transition of this two-phase Au-Ge/Au coexistence to a completely liquid Au-Ge droplet during isothermal digermane exposure at temperatures far below the bulk Au-Ge eutectic temperature. Upon Ge crystal nucleation and subsequent Ge nanowire growth, the catalyst either recrystallizes or remains liquid, apparently stabilized by the Ge supersaturation. We argue that there is a large energy barrier to nucleate diamond-cubic Ge, but not to nucleate the Au-Ge liquid. As a result, the system follows the more kinetically accessible path, forming a liquid even at 240 degrees C, although there is no liquid along the most thermodynamically favorable path below 360 degrees C.

The Heterogeneous Growth of P(3MeTh)--An Ellipsometric Study

Successive thicker P(3MeTh) layers are analysed by ex situ conventional and imaging ellipsometry. Thin films display a smooth surface, are compact and homogeneous while for a growth charge above 20 mC cm(-2) the polymer structure modifies to a still uniform but less dense layer. A two-layer model is used and a mathematical procedure is developed to obtain, simultaneously, from the experimental ellipsometric parameters, Delta and Psi, the thickness and the complex refractive index of P(3MeTh) films grown up to 80 mC cm(-2). Thicker polymer layers are disordered and present a high degree of surface roughness. 

The effect of nucleation time on the growth of a microvoid in a viscoelastic material

In this paper, discussions are focused on the growth of a nucleated void in a viscoelastic material. The in situ tensile tests of specimens made of high-density polyethylene, filled with spherical glass beads (HDPE/GB) are carried out under SEM. The experimental result indicates that the microvoid nucleation is induced by the partially interfacial debonding of particles. By means of the Laplace transform and the Eshelby's equivalent inclusion method, a new analytical expression of the void strain at different nucleation times is derived. It can be seen that the strain of the nucleated void depends not only on the remote strain history, but also on the nucleation time. This expression is also illustrated by numerical examples, and is found to be of great usefulness in the study of damage evolution in viscoelastic materials.

Modeling of Ammonothermal Growth of Nitrides

Bulk single crystals of GaN and AlN can be grown from supercritical fluids using the ammonothermal method, which utilizes ammonia as fluid rather than water as in the hydrothermal process. In this process, a mineralizer such as amide, imide or nitride is used to attack a bulk nitride feedstock at temperatures from 200°C to 500°C and pressures from 1 to 4 kbar. Ammonothermal systems have been modeled here using fluid dynamics, thermodynamics and heat transfer models. The nutrient is considered as a porous media bed and the fluid flow is simulated using the Darcy-Brinkman-Forchheimer model. The resulting governing equations are solved using the finite volume method. The effects of particle size on flow pattern and temperature distribution in an autoclave are analyzed.

Numerical Analysis of LEC Growth of GaAs with an Axial Magnetic Field

A set of numerical analyses for momentum and heat transfer For a 3 in. (0.075 m) diameter Liquid Encapsulant Czochralski (LEC) growth of single-crystal GaAs with or without all axial magnetic field was carried Out using the finite-element method. The analyses assume a pseudosteady axisymmetric state with laminar floats. Convective and conductive heat transfers. radiative heat transfer between diffuse surfaces and the Navier-Stokes equations for both melt and encapsulant and electric current stream function equations Cor melt and crystal Lire considered together and solved simultaneously. The effect of the thickness of encapsulant. the imposed magnetic field strength as well as the rotation rate of crystal and crucible on the flow and heat transfer were investigated. (C) 2002 Published by Elsevier Science Ltd.

Growth of ultrahigh density vertically aligned carbon nanotube forests for interconnects.

We present a general catalyst design to synthesize ultrahigh density, aligned forests of carbon nanotubes by cyclic deposition and annealing of catalyst thin films. This leads to nanotube forests with an area density of at least 10(13) cm(-2), over 1 order of magnitude higher than existing values, and close to the limit of a fully dense forest. The technique consists of cycles of ultrathin metal film deposition, annealing, and immobilization. These ultradense forests are needed to use carbon nanotubes as vias and interconnects in integrated circuits and thermal interface materials. Further density increase to 10(14) cm(-2) by reducing nanotube diameter is possible, and it is also applicable to nanowires.

Low temperature growth of carbon nanotubes and nanofibres

This paper reviews work on low temperature growth of carbon nanotubes, on Si, on plastic, on carbon cloth, using sputtered and colloidal catalysts, and with nano-imprinted patterning. © 2005 Materials Research Society.

Observation of the ordered growth of coronene on Ag(111): a scanning tunnelling microscopy study of vacuum deposited molecules

The molecular ordering of coronene (C24H12) obtained by vacuum-deposition onto predominantly Ag(111) on mica has been investigated using the scanning tunnelling microscope. Real-space topographic images reveal that in certain regions we obtain layer-by-layer ordered growth of the molecules on this substrate which agrees with previous indirect measurements (the growth did not display this ordering in other regions). In our experiments on the ordered regions, we observe the best imaging contrast at a voltage bias of -0.28 V which may correspond to a resonant tunnelling process through the molecules. © 1995.

Growth of highly-quality single-wall carbon nanotubes without amorphous carbon formation

A simple way to deposit single-wall carbon nanotubes by CVD without the co-deposition of unwanted a-C was demonstrated. It was found that the catalytic deposition of SWCNTs occurs at a substantial rate compared to the self-pyrolysis of the hydrocarbon gas used.

Investigating the hydrothermal growth of zinc oxide nanostructures through seed layer control

Controlling the growth of ZnO nanostructures for photovoltaic applications will ensure greater device efficiency and parameter control. This paper reports on methods to engineer the morphology and tailor the nanostructure growth direction through the hydrothermal synthesis method. Effective control is achieved through the use of a sputtered zinc layer together with modifications of the growth solution. These nanostructures have been developed with a view to incorporation into excitonic solar cells, and methods to improve surface stability using a fully aqueous synthesis method will be discussed. © by Oldenbourg Wissenschaftsverlag, München.

Innovative capabilities, entrepreneurial process and the dynamic growth of university spin-outs: A process-oriented study with evidence from China

This research aims to develop a conceptual framework in order to enquire into the dynamic growth process of University Spin-outs (hereafter referred to as USOs) in China, attempting to understand the capabilities configuration that are necessary for the dynamic growth. Based on the extant literature and empirical cases, this study attempts to address the question how do USOs in China build and configure the innovative capabilities to cope with the dynamic growth. This paper aims to contribute to the existing literature by providing a theoretical discussion of the USOs' dynamic entrepreneurial process, by investigating the interconnections between innovation problem-solving and the required configuration of innovative capabilities in four growth phases. Further, it presents a particular interest on the impact to the USOs' entrepreneurial innovation process by the integrative capabilities, in terms of knowledge integration, alliance, venture finance and venture governance. To date, studies that have investigated the dynamic development process of USOs in China and have recognized the heterogeneity of USOs in terms of capabilities that are required for rapid growth still remain sparse. Addressing this research gap will be of great interest to entrepreneurs, policy makers, and venture investors. ©2009 IEEE.

Modeling Ammonothermal Growth of GaN Single Crystals: The Role of Transport

Single crystal gallium nitride (GaN) is an important technological material used primarily for the manufacture of blue light lasers. An important area of contemporary research is developing a viable growth technique. The ammonothermal technique is an important candidate among many others with promise of commercially viable growth rates and material quality. The GaN growth rates are a complicated function of dissolution kinetics, transport by thermal convection and crystallization kinetics. A complete modeling effort for the growth would involve modeling each of these phenomena and also the coupling between these. As a first step, the crystallization and dissolution kinetics were idealized and the growth rates as determined purely by transport were investigated. The growth rates thus obtained were termed ‘transport determined growth rates’ and in principle are the maximum growth rates that can be obtained for a given configuration of the system. Using this concept, a parametric study was conducted primarily on the geometric and the thermal boundary conditions of the system to optimize the ‘transport determined growth rate’ and determine conditions when transport might be a bottleneck.