Hierarchical nanostructure produced by growing carbon nanotubes on silicon oxide nanowires

Abstract

It was demonstrated that an array of carbon nanotubes (CNT) can be grown using plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposition on silicon oxide nanowires (SiOxNWs) to construct one-dimensional hierarchical heterostructure. In order to grow the CNTs on the SiOxNWs, the nanowire surface was decorated with Ni seed particles by direct physical vapor deposition without any surface pretreatment. Nano-sized Ni seed particles allowed the CNTs to nucleate on the nanowire surface. Scanning and transmission electron microscopy verified the branches of CNTs projecting from the SiOxNWs. All CNTs were multi-walled and have an average diameter of 20 nm. These CNTs cover the entire length of the individual SiOxNWs. The CNT-coated SiOxNWs can be potentially used as a nanowire-supported catalyst with high active surface area.