Dynamic catalyst restructuring during carbon nanotube growth.

Moseler, Michael; Cervantes-Sodi, Felipe; Hofmann, Stephan; Csányi, Gábor; Ferrari, Andrea C · ACS Nano · 2010

basic_science · Level V

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Abstract

We study the restructuring of solid nickel catalyst nanoparticles during carbon nanotube growth by environmental transmission electron microscopy and multiscale modeling. Our molecular dynamics/continuum transport calculations of surface-diffusion-mediated restructuring are in quantitative agreement with the experimentally observed catalyst shape evolutions. The restructuring time scale is determined by reduced Ni diffusion through the stepped Ni-C interface region where the catalyst surface strongly anchors to the growing nanotube.