Theoretical investigation of the growth rate of carbon nanotubes in chemical vapor deposition

Abstract

The growth rate of carbon nanotubes in chemical vapor deposition is simulated by using a theoretical analysis of the phonon vibration of the system. Simulations demonstrate that the growth rate of carbon nanotubes with larger diameters is smaller because of higher damping factors and carbon nanotube inertia. An optimum temperature for the growth rate is calculated for a carbon nanotube on Fe catalyst. Simulations from the theory are in good agreement with reported experimental results.