Effect of external electric field on the growth of nanotubules

In the present investigation, we have studied the effect of electric field on the growth of carbon nanotubules. Different electric fields corresponding to 3, 6, 9, 15, and 21 V have been applied during the growth of the tubules. The estimate of the electric field corresponding to these voltages cannot be precisely evaluated in view of only approximately defined electrode dimensions. It has been observed that the application of electric field leads to the agglomerates (bundles) of nanotubules. The size, length, and alignment of these bundles varies with the strength of the applied electric field. The best results have been obtained with electric field corresponding to 6 V where the as-formed tubules are in parallel alignment and exist as bundles. As the electric field is increased, the alignment of tubules in the bundle becomes randomly oriented. The degree of randomness increases with increase of electric field after its optimum value corresponding to 6 V. The parallel alignment of the graphitic tubules is thought to result due to orientation of the tubule axis along the direction of the applied electric field corresponding to an optimum value (which for the present case is 6 V) of the impressed voltage.