1.
What determines the catalytic efficiency of free and
supported catalyst nanoparticles for nanotube nucleation and growth?
2.
Is chirality determined during nucleation or growth
(in high and low-T methods)?
3.
What factors determine the diameter, chirality,
number of walls, and defects in nanotubes during nucleation and growth?
4.
What are the reactive species (including oxidants
and promoters) and the chemical reaction pathways and dynamics leading to the
effective nucleation, growth, and termination of carbon nanotubes
5.
What is the nature of the carbon species near the
nanoparticle/nanotube interface (e.g. dimers dissolved within, or on the
surface of) and the insertion reactions for carbon incorporation?
6.
How does the nature and geometry of the catalyst
support alter the mechanisms of nanotube nucleation, growth and chirality
selection
7.
How do the phases and crystalline orientations of
nanoscale catalyst particles affect nanotube diameters, nucleation and growth
kinetics, and chirality in both high- and low-temperature synthesis methods?
8.
How do collective effects within evolving nanotube
architectures affect synthesis dynamics ?
9.
What are the mechanisms for growth termination?
10.
What are the rate-limiting steps in SWNT growth?
*BONUS* What
"killer application" of SWCNTs will drive future synthesis research?
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