Effect of $NH_3$ on the Synthesis of Carbon Nanotubes Using Thermal Chemical Vapor Deposition

This study investigates the effect of $NH_3$ gas upon the growth of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) using thermal chemical vapor deposition. It is considered that the CNT synthesis occurs mainly through two steps, clustering of catalyst particles and subsequent growth of CNTs. We thus introduced $NH_3$ during either an annealing or growth step. When $NH_3$ was fed only during annealing, CNTs grew longer and more highly crystalline with diameters unchanged. An addition of $NH_3$ during growth, however, resulted in shorter CNTs with lower crystallinity while increased their diameters. Vertically aligned, highly populated CNT samples showed poor field emission characteristics, leading us to apply post-treatments onto the CNT surface. The CNTs were treated by adhesive tapes or etched back by dc plasma of $N_2$ to reduce the population density and the radius of curvatures of CNTs. We discuss the morphological changes of CNTs and their field emission properties upon surface treatments.