Template growth of vertically aligned carbon nanotubes using self-assembled monolayers of SiO2 particles by Langmuir-Blodgett technique

The electronic transfer and active surface area of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) have been increased by using a template for the growth of patterned vertically aligned carbon nanotubes (VACNTs). To get the novel template, spherical SiO2 particles of 500 nm in diameter were synthesized by sol-gel method with high homogeneity in size and shape. The resulting particles were deposited as self-assembled monolayers over different substrates by Langmuir-Blodgett technique. The obtained monolayers were used as a sacrificial template for the growth of patterned VACNTs by plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposition. Ni catalyst was deposited through the SiO2 particles template by magnetron sputtering. Morphological and structural characterization of the substrate before and after the CNTs growth was carried out using different techniques. Raman spectroscopy was performed to analyze the quality and structure of the CNTs.