US Patent 7820245 Method of synthesizing single-wall carbon nanotubes

A method for synthesizing single-wall carbon nanotubes (SWNTs) generally includes the steps of: providing a substrate having an upper portion comprised of indium tin oxide; forming an aluminum layer on the upper portion of the substrate; forming a catalyst layer on the aluminum layer to obtain a treated substrate; annealing the treated substrate so as to transform the catalyst layer into a plurality of oxidized catalyst particles on the substrate; and growing a plurality of single-wall carbon nanotubes on the treated substrate using a chemical vapor deposition process.