Synthesis and Characterization of Aligned Carbon Nanotube Arrays

Highly ordered, isolated, long carbon nanotubes can be grown over large areas using the improved chemical vapor deposition (CVD) method reported here. The secret to the controlled growth lies in the substrate used—mesoporous silica embedded with iron nanoparticles. After synthesis, the substrate can be removed, retaining aligned tubes with neat roots. The production of pure, homogeneous, and uniform samples of highly graphitized nanotubes is important not only for potential applications but also for detailed characterization of the nanotubes' properties.