Electric field-assisted growth of directed carbon nanotubes in environmental TEM: towards applications in electron sources and nanomechanics – SOLITUBE

The SOLITUBE project aims to better understand and develop electric-field-assisted CVD growth of aligned single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWNTs) of high crystalline quality for disruptive applications. It is anchored on preliminary time-resolved studies in an environmental TEM of SWNT growth on dedicated, in-house microchip heaters. The nanotubes show excellent directivity and perfect straightness, interpreted as an absence of defects. In-situ ETEM experiments will be used both for a parametric study of the nanotube growth (vs pressure, temperature, electric field...) in view of specific applications and for understanding the field directed nucleation at the atomic scale. Field-assisted nucleation that controls the subsequent nanotube form will add a new tool towards the goal of absolute control of CNT structure, so important for applications. New micro-chip structures will be designed and fabricated for different aspects of the SWNT growth localization and selectivity. The optimal synthesis conditions for localized growths will be transposed to SEM and field emission environments. Localized and individual SWNTs positioned within devices will be developed for two application domains, electron sources and nano-mechanical oscillators that are coupled in this project. We will use a cutting edge UHV opto-mechanical system to explore advanced subjects in nano-mechanics. Ultimately, better localization of deposited catalysts coupled to the electric field synthesis will be used to produce axial field emission cathodes with high current density and pulsed current sources. The better positioning of individual high quality nanotubes open new paradigms for Vacuum Nano Electronic and nano-mechanical devices.