Field emission induced deformations in SiO2 during CVD growth of carbon nanotubes

Journal article, 2006

The application of an electric field while growing carbon nanotubes with CVD can induce deformations in the SiO2 substrate. The effect is attributed to field emission from the tubes and Marangoni convection in a small molten SiO2 region underneath the tubes. Postgrowth deformation has been performed as well as large scale deformations using the collective effect of many field emitters. The porosity of one type of deformation is also examined and discussed.