We report on the production of single-wall carbon nanotubes from nanosized
graphite powders and atomic hydrogen using a novel growth technique. The in
dividual nanotubes produced during the process form rather thick layers of
bundles deposited onto the iron-coated Si substrates. Raman spectroscopy in
the 150-250 cm(-1) region and reflection electron diffraction in selected
area configuration have been used to define the geometrical details of the
nanotubes. The proposed growth methodology is found to yield prevalently na
notubes belonging to the (n, 0) zigzag achiral subclass, with a diameter di
stribution function centred at about 1.6 nm. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science S.A.
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