Synthesis of carbon nanotubes by laser ablation of graphites at room temperature

We successfully synthesized carbon nanotubes with very small diameters (5-10 nm) at room temperature by using high energy laser pulses (193 nm, 5 J/cm(2) and 20 ns duration time) to re-excite the carbon species contained in the laser ejected plume. The carbon nanotubes, which presumably formed in gas phase, were preferentially collected by electro-statically biasing (similar to 5 kVDC) the substrates. High resolution transmission electron microscopic analysis reveals that thus obtained materials are multiwall carbon nanotubes.