Morphological Evolvement of Carbon Nanotubes Synthesized by Using Conducting Polymer Nanofibers

Figure 2

(a, b) TEM images of the CNTs synthesized by 30 s microwave time and protruded catalyst Fe NPs are observed to direct the CNT growth. (c, d) TEM images showing the cascade growth process of the CNTs; the catalyst Fe NPs are protruded towards the growth direction and lifted to direct the growth from the parent NP, forming a discontinuous cascade of NPs. The growth direction is marked with red arrows. (e) TEM image showing a CNT as the growth process is terminated. A catalyst Fe NP encapsulated in carbon shells can be observed at the tip of the CNT. The carbon shells are composed of orderly stacking graphene layers as shown in (f).

(a)

(b)

(c)

(d)

(e)

(f)