Scanning tunneling microscopy (STM) is an excellent technique to image the surfaces of materials with extreme spatial resolution. However, it is difficult to maintain its imaging quality when applying the technique under the conditions used in many practical processes, such as chemical vapor deposition and catalysis. In this article, we describe two special classes of STM instruments that are capable of maintaining good imaging quality under “difficult” conditions, namely, one for high and variable temperatures and the other for the combination of high temperatures and high gas pressures. In both cases, we discuss the special design features that make these instruments robust with respect to the challenging imaging conditions and provide examples to illustrate how they are applied.

Nanocarbons have been catalytically grown since 1993. However, even today, the formation mechanisms of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) and graphene are not sufficiently understood. This sustained challenge has been an engine for the development in theory concepts and computational methods, tackling the problem of well-controlled production of these nanomaterials. This article discusses how experimental discoveries and theoretical approaches evolved hand-in-hand for the successful understanding of challenging issues, highlighting parallels and distinctions between graphene and CNTs. Key aspects include the mechanisms of nucleation and CNT-liftoff, chiral symmetry selection and control, rates of growth and island shapes, mechanisms defining single chirality of the nanotubes, and ways to suppress grain boundaries in the quest for ever larger and faster growing single-crystal graphene, or longest defect-free CNTs. The theme of catalyst chemistry and structure, either as a nanoparticle or a planar substrate, is traced through the stages of nanocarbon formation, with focus on theoretically generalizable findings.

Catalysts play essential roles in the chemical vapor deposition of single-wall carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs). In this article, we summarize studies on catalysts for the structure-controlled growth and mass production of SWCNTs, discussing the main progress and the remaining challenges.

High-quality carbon nanotubes (CNTs) and graphene synthesized by chemical vapor deposition (CVD) have unique one- and two-dimensional structures made up of sp 2-hybridized carbon atoms and excellent physical and chemical properties. They have shown potential for use in electronics, optoelectronics, energy-storage devices, composites, and sensors. In this article, we review important milestones in these uses of CNTs and graphene produced by CVD, with special emphasis on the latest advances and remaining challenges. The key characteristics and advantages of CNTs and graphene synthesized by CVD for different applications are compared, and future trends in the use of these nanocarbons are discussed.