Module 1 : Introduction to materials

Lecture 7 : Introduction to nanoscience and nanotechnology - Carbon nanotubes, fullerenes

 

The laser ablation technique uses a 1.2 % of Co/Ni with 98.8 % of graphite composite target.
It is placed in a 1200°C quartz tube furnace with an inert atmosphere of 500 Torr of Ar or He.
It is vaporized with a laser pulse. A pulsed- or continuous-wave laser can be used.

Nanometer-size metal catalyst particles are formed in the plume of vaporized graphite. The metal particles catalyze the growth of SWCNTs in the plasma plume.