Heat spurs growth of tiny carbon trees

With a simple heating and cooling process, scientists can grow a forest of microscopic carbon trees on a surface, according to a new study.

Like a forest of fuzzy cotton swabs, microscopic carbon trees of different heights spring from a graphite surface. Ajayan

In the past, scientists have used catalysts to stimulate the growth of nanotubes and other carbon structures on surfaces (SN: 8/21/99, p.