A brief overview Influence of substrate support layer and c 2026 Next Mat

Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) have outstanding electronic, thermal, and mechanical properties that have made them very attractive for applications in the fields of energy storage, electronics, and nanotechnology. However, realizing the controlled CNT growth with the required diameter and uniformity remains a great challenge. The substrate and support layer have a critically important role in the regulation of the catalyst nanoparticle stability, diffusion, and morphology. Thus, the catalyst strongly influences the shape and productivity of CNTs. This review covers the most commonly used deposition techniques for CNTs, support layers, and catalysts. Moreover, the literature review focuses on different substrates, support layers, and catalysts that govern the growth behavior and forest-like alignment of CNTs. The uniformity of the particle size of the catalyst is essential for carbon nanotube growth as it regulates the density of nucleation, controls the distribution of nanotube diameters, and enables the formation of vertically aligned structures during catalytic chemical vapor deposition (CCVD). We also demonstrate how pretreatment impacts on the support layer and catalysts to enhance the fabrication of the CNTs. Finally, the growth mechanisms of CNTs are also presented, including the challenges previously faced in the synthesis of CNTs and the techniques used to characterize them.