Résumé
We have developed a versatile catalyst-assisted chemical vapor deposition (CVD) technique for the synthesis of single-walled carbon nanotubes (SVNTs) from discrete nickel nanoparticles (average diameter of 4.7 +/- 1.4 nm). Atomic force microscopy (AFM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and micro-Raman spectroscopy are used to characterize these as-grown nanotubes. Using a conventional set-up, we are able to produce isolated SWNTs with a narrow diameter distribution (1.5 +/- 0.5 nm). The advantages of such a versatile CVD method for the study of physical properties at the single nanotube level are illustrated by means of two prospective studies on vibrational and electrostatic properties of SWNTs. (c) 2005 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.