FORMATION OF CARBON NANOTUBES AND THEIR FILLING WITH METALLIC FIBERS ON ION-EMITTING FIELD ANODES

Detailed descriptions are given of the formation of carbon nanotubes a nd their filling with metallic fibers developing on field anodes in th e so-called ''anode activation'' process. Unlike the multishell carbon nanotubes produced in are plasmas, these carbon nanotubes are not per fectly graphitized. The metallic fibers grown inside the nanotubes con tain chromium as their major component, but their structure does not c onform to any of the known compounds of Cr nor to elemental Cr. The gr owth morphology and lateral dimension of metallic fibers are governed by those of their host nanotubes, thus falling into the category of '' template-mediated'' crystal growth. Evidence is also presented that th e metallic fibers epitaxially promote the graphitization of the carbon nanotubes. (C) 1998 American Institute of Physics.