SOLID CARBON NANOTUBE FORESTS AND METHODS FOR PRODUCING SOLID CARBON NANOTUBE FORESTS

A method of producing forests of fibrous solid carbon includes providing a catalyst material over a substrate, forming the catalyst material into catalyst nanoparticles, and reacting carbon monoxide with hydrogen in the presence of the catalyst nanoparticles to form forests of fibrous solid carbon attached to the catalyst nanoparticles. A composition of matter includes an inert material disposed upon a substrate, a plurality of nanoparticles of catalyst material upon the inert material, and a plurality of carbon nanotubes upon the nanoparticles. Some methods of producing a forest of carbon nanotubes include preparing a catalyst surface by depositing an inert material onto stainless steel, and depositing iron onto the inert material. The catalyst surface is placed into a furnace chamber, and the furnace chamber is heated. A mixture of hydrogen and carbon monoxide is provided into the furnace chamber