Nanotube Growth Calculator

NANOTECHNOLOGY UNDERGRADUATE EDUCATION - 2007

In Situ Real-time Atomic Scale Nanostructural Synthesis, Characterization and Modeling

Nanotube Growth Calculator:

The Carbon Nanotube (CNT) growth rates - the duration of growth and length of the nanotube so formed are highly dependent on synthesis conditions. It has been shown experimentally that higher reactant gas pressures lead to higher growth rates as also an increase in the chance of forming a multi-walled carbon nanotube (MWNT). The MWNT also shows a typical serpentine morphology. Lower gas pressures favored the formation of single-walled tube (SWNT) although this leads to a marked decrease in growth rates.

The typical morphologies developed by CNT in different growth conditions is shown below:

Fig. TEM Images showing final length of CNT formed at 480°C: (a) at low (<20mTorr) pressure with low growth rate, and (b) at high pressure with high growth rate (serpentine morphology) [From R Sharma et. al., Journal of Electron Microscopy 2005, 54(3):231-237]

The following Nanotube Growth Calculator has been created to give you a intuitive understanding of the way various experimental parameters involved in the CNT synthesis affect the growth rate of the CNT and thus its morphology.

INPUT GROWTH PARAMETERS:

(A brief description of these growth parameters and typical values may be obtained by clicking here:)

Reactant Gas Pressure (mTorr):
Reactant Gas Temperature(Celsius):
Mass of Gas Molecule (a.m.u):
Nanotube Diameter(nm):
Number of Walls:
Sticking Co-efficient (fraction between 0 & 1):

DERIVED PARAMETERS:

(A description of the derived parameters can be obtained by clicking on them:)

Impingement Rate: (molecules sec-1 nm-2)

Linear Density: (C atoms nm-1)

Catalyst Cap Surface Area: (nm2)

NANOTUBE GROWTH RATE: (nm sec-1)