ERDA and Structural Characterization of Oriented Multiwalled Carbon Nanotubes

Oriented multiwalled carbon nanotubes have been synthesized by distributed electron cyclotron resonance plasma enhanced chemical vapor deposition. Elastic recoil detection analysis measurements on multiwalled carbon nanotubes are reported here for the first time. On the basis of the recorded depth profiles, we have developed a simple model to estimate the surface densities of as-grown nanotubes. Besides, nitrogen and hydrogen contents into MWNT, typically less than 6.5 and 8 atom %, respectively, have been characterized as a function of the chemical nature of the catalyst, the synthesis temperature, and the hydrogen carrying diluent gas. These results are discussed with respect to the structural characterization performed by electron energy loss spectroscopy measurements, transmission electron microscopy and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy.