Patent ID: 8715790

Claim:
A method of forming carbon nanotubes in an apparatus by plasma enhanced chemical vapor deposition, comprising: (a) providing an earthed electrode and a powered electrode in a chamber of the apparatus, the earthed electrode and the powered electrode being arranged substantially parallel and being spaced apart such that a space is provided between the earthed electrode and the powered electrode; (b) supporting a substrate on the earthed electrode such that the substrate occupies a part of the space between the earthed electrode and the powered electrode with a surface of the substrate facing said space, and providing a catalyst on said surface of a substrate; (c) feeding a carbon containing gas via an inlet into the chamber; (d) striking a plasma from the carbon containing gas in the space between the earthed electrode and the powered electrode by applying energy to the powered electrode, wherein the energy comprises at least one of radio-frequency energy and microwave-frequency energy; and (e) forming carbon nanotubes from the plasma on the surface of the substrate facing the plasma, wherein the apparatus comprises a temperature control system that includes both heating elements and cooling elements, and wherein the temperature control system maintains the earthed electrode and the powered electrode at a temperature below 300° C. throughout (a)-(e), thus maintaining the substrate at said temperature.