A method of synthesizing and controlling the internal diameters, conical
angles, and morphology of tubular carbon nano/micro structures. Different
morphologies can be synthesized included but not limited to cones,
straight tubes, nozzles, cone-on-tube (funnels), tube-on-cone,
cone-tube-cone, n-staged structures, multijunctioned tubes, Y-junctions,
dumbbell (pinched morphology) and capsules. The process is based on
changing the wetting behavior of a low melting metals such as gallium,
indium, and aluminum with carbon using a growth environment of different
gas phase chemistries. The described carbon tubular morphologies can be
synthesized using any kind of gas phase excitation such as, but not
limited to, microwave excitation, hot filament excitation, thermal
excitation and Radio Frequency (RF) excitations. The depositions area is
only limited by the substrate area in the equipment used and not limited
by the process. The internal diameters of the carbon tubular structures
can be varied from a few nm to as high as about 20 microns. The wall
thickness is about 10-20 nm. The carbon tubular structures can be formed
open on both ends are directly applicable to micro-fluidics. Gallium
required for the growth of the carbon tubes can be supplied either as a
thin film on the substrate or could be supplied through the gas phase
with different precursors such as Tri-methyl gallium. Seamless
Y-junctions with no internal obstructions can be synthesized without the
need of templates. Multi-channeled junctions can also be synthesized
without any internal obstructions. Gallium that partially fills the
carbon structures can be removed from the tubes by simple heating in
vacuum at temperature above 600.degree..