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Fast Breaking Comments

By S. Ravi Silva

ESI Special Topics, April 2004
Citing URL - http://www.esi-topics.com/fbp/2004/april04-RaviSilva.html

S. Ravi Silva answers a few questions about this month's fast breaking paper in the field of Materials Science.

From •>>April 2004

Field: Materials Science
 Article Title: Large-area synthesis of carbon nanofibres at room temperature
 Authors: Boskovic, BO;Stolojan, V;Khan, RUA;Haq, S;Silva, SRP
Journal: NAT MATER
Volume: 1
Page: 165-168
Year: NOV 2002
* Morgan Grp Technol Ltd, Bewdley Rd, Stourport On Severn DY13 8QR, Worcs, England.
* Morgan Grp Technol Ltd, Stourport On Severn DY13 8QR, Worcs, England.
* Univ Surrey, Adv Technol Inst, Sch Elect & Phys Sci, Guildford GU2 7XH, Surrey, England.
* BAE SYST, Ctr Adv Technol, Bristol BS34 7QW, Avon, England.

ST:  Why do you think your paper is highly cited?

Right: S. Ravi Silva on far right, middle: Lord Sainsbury, Minister of Science and Technology, UK, left: Prof. Mike Kearney, Director of the Advanced Technology Institute.
“Based on the work reported you can now grow carbon nanotubes on substrates held at room temperature.”

The work presented in this paper will revolutionize the manner in which carbon nanotubes are grown. Previously it was only possible to grow nanotubes at 500 degrees centigrade. Our paper showed that the substrate temperature could be lowered right down to room temperature. Now, plastic and biological samples can be used as substrates to grow carbon nanotubes.

ST:  Does it describe a new discovery or a new methodology that's useful to others?

It describes both a new discovery of growing carbon nanotubes at room temperature held substrates and it gives a new methodology on growing the materials using a technique suitable for large-area growth.

ST:  How did you become involved in this research?

I became involved through my work associated with a defense contract and my prior history in CVD growth.

ST:  Could you summarize the significance of your paper in layman's terms?

Based on the work reported you can now grow carbon nanotubes on substrates held at room temperature. It allows for a whole gamut of applications from high-strength composites to flat-panel displays to interconnects for IC circuits to novel forms of light bulbs to be fabricated. The whole area of large-area, inexpensive, manufacturable carbon nanotubes will become feasible based on this discovery.End

ESI Special Topics, April 2004
Citing URL - http://www.esi-topics.com/fbp/2004/april04-RaviSilva.html

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