Low temperature growth mechanisms of vertically aligned carbon nanofibers and nanotubes by radio frequency-plasma enhanced chemical vapor deposition

Using radio frequency-plasma enhanced chemical vapor deposition (RF-PECVD), carbon nanofibers (CNFs) and carbon nanotubes (CNTs) were synthesized at low temperature. Base growth vertical turbostratic CNFs were grown using a sputtered 8 nm Ni thin film catalyst on Si substrates at 140 °C. Tip growth vertical platelet nanofibers were grown using a Ni nanocatalyst in 8 nm Ni films on TiN/Si at 180 °C. Using a Ni catalyst on glass substrate at 180 °C a transformation of the structure from CNFs to CNTs was observed. By adding hydrogen, tip growth vertical multi-walled carbon nanotubes were produced at 180 °C using FeNi nanocatalyst in 8 nm FeNi films on glass substrates. Compared to the most widely used thermal CVD method, in which the synthesis temperature was 400–850 °C, RF-PECVD had a huge advantage in low temperature growth and control of other deposition parameters. Despite significant progress in CNT synthesis by PECVD, the low temperature growth mechanisms are not clearly understood. Here, low temperature growth mechanisms of CNFs and CNTs in RF-PECVD are discussed based on plasma physics and chemistry, catalyst, substrate characteristics, temperature, and type of gas.