Growth of Carbon Nanostructure Materials Using Laser Vaporization

Abstract Carbon nanoparticles and nanotubes have been synthesized on Si substrates using pulsed laser vaporization. Two kinds of targets were used to grow the nanostructural materials. One was a pure carbon target and the other was carbon target containing Ni and Co catalysts. The growth temperatures were 600–1000°C and the argon pressure was 500 torr. Samples were characterized by scanning electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, and Raman spectroscopy. Materials containing carbon nanocrystal particles could be observed using a pure carbon target when a thin Ni film was deposited on (100) Si substrates prior to growing carbon materials. The carbon nanotubes (CNT) were obtained in carbon soot when the target contained catalysts. By comparing the Raman radial breathing modes of the CNT grown at various temperatures, it was found that the density of the CNT was lower and the strongest Raman peak was slightly blue-shifted in samples grown at lower temperatures.