Nanocrystalline non-planar carbons: growth of carbon nanotubes and curled nanostructures

We present a variety of non-planar graphitic nanostructures selectively generated in a modified Hot-Filament Chemical Vapour Deposition (HF-CVD) apparatus, using purpose-synthesized amorphous carbon nanoparticles or graphite powders as solid state precursor. The employed methodologies enable to successfully synthesize homogeneous and well organized deposits of single- and multi-walled carbon nanotubes, onion-like nanostructures, and nanotube bundles coated by nano-sized diamond grains. Variations in the morphological aspect of such non-planar graphite-based nanostructures are observed changing the experimental conditions: the solid state reactants, the filament and substrate temperatures, the catalyst concentration, and the atomic hydrogen flux over the substrate play key roles in the phenomenon.