Synthesis and Characterization of Carbon Nanotubes Produced From Thermal Decomposition of Nickellocene

We have employed a direct thermal deposition technique, which used Nickellocene both as the catalyst as well as the carbon source, to grow films of carbon nanotubes (CNT). The CNT films obtained using this procedure were characterized using Transmission Electron Microscopy which indicated the presence of thin diameter carbon nanotubes as well as single walled CNT ropes. Volumetric adsorption measurements were performed to determine the porosity and specific surface areas of these samples. Electrical transport measurements performed on long ropes of CNTs extracted from these bulk films will be presented and will be discussed in the framework of transport theories of quasi-one dimensional systems.