Title: Self-organised hybrid nanostructures composed of the array of vertically aligned carbon nanotubes and planar graphene multi-layer

Authors: Vladimir A. Labunov; Alena L. Pudnikava; Boris G. Shulitski; Beng Kang Tay; Maziar Shakerzadeh; Xingli Wang; Alexander S. Basaev; Viacheslav A. Galperin; Yuri P. Shaman

Addresses: Department of Micro- and Nanoelectronics, Belarusian State University of Informatics and Radioelectronics, Minsk 220013, Belarus ' Department of Micro- and Nanoelectronics, Belarusian State University of Informatics and Radioelectronics, Minsk 220013, Belarus ' Department of Micro- and Nanoelectronics, Belarusian State University of Informatics and Radioelectronics, Minsk 220013, Belarus ' Novitas Centre, Division of Microelectronics and CINTRA, Nanyang Technological University, 50 Nanyang Avenue, 639798, Singapore ' Novitas Centre, Division of Microelectronics and CINTRA, Nanyang Technological University, 50 Nanyang Avenue, 639798, Singapore ' Novitas Centre, Division of Microelectronics and CINTRA, Nanyang Technological University, 50 Nanyang Avenue, 639798, Singapore ' Technological Center, Scientific and Manufacturing Complex, Moscow Institute of Electronic Technology, Zelenograd 124498, Moscow, Russia ' Technological Center, Scientific and Manufacturing Complex, Moscow Institute of Electronic Technology, Zelenograd 124498, Moscow, Russia ' Technological Center, Scientific and Manufacturing Complex, Moscow Institute of Electronic Technology, Zelenograd 124498, Moscow, Russia

Abstract: The hybrid carbon nanostructures composed of an array of vertically aligned carbon nanotubes (CNTs) and a self-organised planar graphene multi-layer (PGL) located at the top of the array (CNT-PGL nanostructures) have been obtained by the floating catalyst CVD method. The growth mechanism of CNT-PGL nanostructures is analysed. The fundamental characteristics (morphology, elemental composition and structure) of these nanostructures were characterised by Scanning and Transmission Electron Microscopy, Atomic Force Microscopy, Energy-Dispersive X-ray (EDX), Auger and Raman spectroscopy. It has been established that PGL grows by the typical epitaxial growth of multi-layer films and CNTs grow simultaneously both via root-growth mechanism (attached to the substrate) and tip-growth mechanism (attached to the planar layer). This planar layer is a layered-graphitic structure 'graphene multi-layer' and is connected with CNTs through the catalyst nanoparticles. It consists of disordered graphitic flakes with a size of several tens of nanometres randomly oriented and overlapping one another. These flakes have a crystallite grain of about 5.2 nm in size.

Keywords: self-organisation; self-assembly; allotropic carbon; carbon nanotubes; CNT; carbon hybrids; hybrid nanostructures; planar graphite layer; PGL; CNT-PGL nanostacks; nanoelectronics; nanotechnology; nanoparticles.

DOI: 10.1504/IJNT.2014.059825

International Journal of Nanotechnology, 2014 Vol.11 No.1/2/3/4, pp.230 - 242

Published online: 15 Nov 2014 *

Full-text access for editors Full-text access for subscribers Purchase this article Comment on this article