Immobilization of iron oxide nanoclusters on surface functionalized silicon substrate and their catalytic behavior to synthesize multi-walled carbon nanotubes.

Multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) were grown using iron oxide nanoclusters (Nc) assisted by self-assembled monolayer (SAM) on substrate. The amine-terminated SAM fabricated on silicon substrate (APTMS/SI) was carried out by UV-treatment and immersed into the FeCI3/HCI aqueous solution. Then, Nc were immobilized onto oxidized SAM silicon substrate (SAMs/Si) through electrostatic interaction between cationic Nc and anionic SAMs/Si. The characterization results clearly show that the well-graphitized MWCNTs were synthesized by using functionalized silicon substrate (Nc/SAMs/Si) as a template having appropriate density of catalyst. These consequences show that SAM containing template is important to achieve the effective layer of catalyst to synthesize MWCNTs in chemical vapor deposition (CVD).