Direct\nSynthesis of Colorful Single-Walled Carbon\nNanotube Thin Films

Abstract

In\nfloating catalyst chemical vapor deposition (FC-CVD), tuning\nchirality distribution and obtaining narrow chirality distribution\nof single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) is challenging. Herein,\nby introducing various amount of CO₂ in FC-CVD using CO\nas a carbon source, we have succeeded in directly synthesizing SWCNT\nfilms with tunable chirality distribution as well as tunable colors.\nIn particular, with 0.25 and 0.37 volume percent of CO₂, the SWCNT films display green and brown colors, respectively. We\nascribed various colors to suitable diameter and narrow chirality\ndistribution of SWCNTs. Additionally, by optimizing reactor temperature,\nwe achieved much narrower (<i>n</i>,<i>m</i>)\ndistribution clustered around (11,9) with extremely narrow diameter\nrange (>98% between 1.2 and 1.5 nm). We propose that CO₂ may affect CO disproportionation and nucleation modes of SWCNTs,\nresulting in SWCNTs’ various diameter ranges. Our work could\nprovide a new route for high-yield and direct synthesis of SWCNTs\nwith narrow chirality distribution and offer potential applications\nin electronics, such as touch sensors or transistors.