Laser Plasma Manufacturing of Oriented Carbon Nanotubes and Nanowires

One of the best methods for producing single walled carbon nanotubes (SWNT) is pulsed laser ablation (PLA). SWNT formation is catalyzed by the formation of iron nanoparticles that are formed in the laser generated plasma. However, the formation of Fe nanoparticles of the size necessary to effectively catalyze SWNT formation by current laser ablation techniques is an extremely inefficient process. This proposal examines unique applications of nanosecond and ultrashort pulse lasers in combination with thin film deposition techniques to generate a significantly higher percentage of Fe nanoparticles of the desired size and distribution. The experimental approach combines the best of current laser technology and process monitoring and control techniques to create a stable production environment for the formation of SWNT. The proposed work also incorporates precision laser micromachining with PLA techniques to investigate the fabrication of devices from ordered SWNT arrays. Both the lasers and the processing techniques were selected to provide the foundation for the development of a cost-effective manufacturing process for the fabrication of devices incorporating SWNT.