State of the Art of Single-Walled Carbon Nanotube Synthesis on Surfaces

Single‐walled carbon nanotubes (SWNTs) directly synthesized on surfaces are promising building blocks for nanoelectronics. The structures and the arrangement of the SWNTs on surfaces determine the quality and density of the fabricated nanoelectronics, implying the importance of structure controlled growth of SWNTs on surfaces. This review summarizes the recent research status in controlling the orientation, length, density, diameter, metallicity, and chirality of SWNTs directly synthesized on surfaces by chemical vapor deposition, together with a session presenting the characterization method of the chirality of SWNTs. Finally, the remaining major challenges are discussed and future research directions are proposed. Single‐walled carbon nanotubes (SWNTs) on surfaces are promising building blocks for nanoelectronics. Structure‐controlled growth of SWNTs on surfaces is important for the development of SWNT‐based electronics. The recent progress in controlling the orientation, length, density, diameter, metallicity, and chirality of SWNTs synthesized on surfaces by chemical vapor deposition is summarized and the remaining challenges and opportunities are discussed.