How to Grow Carbon Nanotubes

1. Load sample into Quartz ( Tubes are stored under the table in front of the oven).

2. Mount quartz tube with sample into oven, and secure input and exhaust connections to the ends of the quartz tube (Ensure you place the Swagelok Ferrules on correctly if not sure check reference Place some fiberglass from the box under the table on each end of the quartz tube to make a tighter seal.

3. Close oven, and lock both latches tightly on front of oven.

4. Switch on flow meter from power strip on the left side of the table, from switch marked “Flow Meter.”

5. Ensure that the set points on the flow meter for the three gases are as follows:

  1. Channel 1: Argon set at 0.600
  2. Channel 2: Hydrogen (H2) set at 0.320
  3. Channel 3: methane (CH4) set at 2.50

6. Open all three gas cylinders from the tanks, the regulators, and then the swagelok valves (Green ones) at the flow meters, and purge system with all three gases for 10-15 minutes.

7. After pourge minutes, close the methane swagelok valve and tank and leave hydrogen and argon running.

8. Turn on the temperature controller from the power strip on the left side of the table with the switch marked “Temp Controller.”

9. Set the SP1 and SP2 sub-menus on the temperature controller to 10oC above your desired temperature, i.e. for 900oC set SP1 and SP2 to 910oC.

10. Check again that latches are engaged on the oven and that the methane tank is closed from the cylinder and swagelok valve.

11. Switch on oven heater from switch on the power strip on the left side of the table with the switch marked “Oven Heater.”

12. Wait for oven to reach desired temperature. For 900oC the wait time is approx 45-90 mins

13. When the oven reaches the desired temperature, open the methane cylinder, then the methane swagelok valve, and leave it open during the growth time.

14. When growth is complete, close methane swagelok, and then methane cylinder.

15. Turn off the oven heater from the switch on the power strip.

16. Wait for temperature to drop to approx. 400oC.

17. Open oven latches and oven. It will cool much more quickly now.

18. Turn off hydrogen, first from the swagelok valve then the cylinder.

19. Wait for oven to reach approx 100oC.

20. Close argon tank, but NOT Ar Swagelok Valve.

21. Open methane and hydrogen swageloks, but NOT cylinders, this step is to vent the lines to all of the gas cylinders.

22. When flow meter reads 0 for all three gases, close swageloks and double check that all cylinders are closed, then close the regulator lines on each cylinder.

23. Remove quartz tube from oven, and remove sample from tube.

24. Replace quartz tube in box, and turn off power to flow meter, and temperature controller from the power strip.

25. Close oven.

26. Leave set up in BETTER condition than you found it in.

27. Check that you have signed the log book.