Carbon nanotubes are produced using a silane procedure, in which a substrate
such as carbon paper or stainless steel mesh is immersed in a silane solution of
a metal catalyst, preferable Co:Ni in a 1:1 ratio; and a feedstock gas containing
a carbon source such as ethylene is fed through the substrate and the catalyst
deposited thereon while the substrate is heated by applying an electrical current
thereto. Thus, a reaction occurs between the catalyst and the gas to yield carbon
nanotubes supported on the conductive substrate. These composite electrodes may
be used in electrochemistry or in field emitting applications.
