Nanotube synthesis methods laser ablation

The synthesis processes for the nanotubes have been continuously refined in the recent years and today, a number of methods are available to synthesize both single and multiwalled carbon nanotubes. These methods include high temperature evaporation using arc-discharge (28-30), laser ablation (31), chemical vapor deposition etc. (32-34). 

Stephan was the first to attempted direct synthesis of the B and N multi walled carbon nanotubes (BCN-MWNTs) in 1994 [15-17]. Since then, considerable progress has been made in the synthesis of BCN-MWNTs by different means of arc-discharge [16-18], laser ablation [18-20], piyolysis methods [18,21], and chemical vapor deposition [18,20-24]. Aligned BNC nanotubes have been sueeessfully fabricated by bias assisted hot filament chemieal vapor deposition [27,28]. Up to now, the only existing BCN-SWNTs synthesis was achieved via an... 

Dozens of methods to synthesize nanotubes, nanowires, and nanorods have been reported that can be found in the references included in Table 1. In addition to the most well known ones, such as hot plasmas, laser ablation, chemical vapor deposition, high temperature solid state and hydrothermal synthesis, fill-ing/coating of carbon nanotubes and similar types of materials, three methods have been developed that enable the synthesis of a wealth of new anisotropic nanoparticles. 

BN and B cCj,N2 nanotubes and fullerene-like structures have been synthesized by various laboratories in recent years. The most popular methods are the plasma arc and laser ablation techniques. The first report on the synthesis of BN nanotubes, using the arc-discharge technique, was by the Zettl group [85, 86]. Because... 

Several methods have been developed to synthesize inorganic fullerenes and nanotubes based on layered MS2 [45-50]. They include arc discharge, laser ablation techniques, electron beam irradiation of MS2 crystals, chemical transport reaction, and precursor synthesis approach [50,54-58]. The chemical vapor transport method, which was discussed earlier, has also been used to synthesize both M0S2 and WS2 nanotubes. 

Since their discovery by Ijima in the early nineties as a byproduct of fullerene synthesis [1], carbon nanotubes have received a growing interest. A huge number of synthesis routes have been proposed, ranging from laser ablation of carbon target, catalytic chemical vapour deposition (CCVD), liquid phase synthesis, plasma methods, and so forth [2]. Also, a large variety of application niches have been identified that render nanotubes a promising material [3]. 

The primary synthesis methods for single and multi-walled carbon nanotubes include arc-discharge [203, 204], lase ablation [205], gas-phase catalytic growth from carbon monoxide [206], and chemical vapor deposition (CVD) from hydrocarbons [207-209], The scale-up limitation of arc discharge and laser ablation methods would make them cost prohibitive. One unique aspect of CVD technique is its ability to synthesize aligned arrays of carbon nanotubes with controlled diameter and length. The details on these methods go beyond the scope of this chapter. 

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