Study of CNT growth using nanocatalyst Ag precursor by HWC-VHF-PECVD

The study of CNT growth has been done by using silver (Ag) nanocatalyst as a guide precursor on corning glass 7059 substrate. The silver catalyst was prepared by the evaporation method by varying deposition time for 50, 25, and 14 seconds. The silver films were then annealed at temperature of 400°C for 4 hours. From Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) and Energy Dispersive X-ray Spectroscopy (EDX) results the grain sizes are 65 nm, 57 nm, and 33 nm, and also the atomic compositions are 6,06%, 4,52%, and 3,73% for 14, 25 and 50 seconds samples, respectively. The 33 nm samples were then used for CNT growth by using Hot Wire Cell (HWC) – Very High Frequency (VHF) – Plasma Enhanced Chemical Vapor Deposition (PECVD) at 275 ° C deposition temperature and pressure of 300 mTorr. The rf power was varied from 8 to 20 watts, with deposition time for 60 minutes. The methane (CH4) 99.999% was used as Carbon sources. Hydrogen gas (H2) was used to etch the oxide layer formed during the pre-deposition process. The diameter and length for the CNT are 125 nm and 1.650 to 2.989 nm respectively.