Cobalt-filled apoferritin for suspended single-walled carbon nanotube growth with narrow diameter distribution

J Am Chem Soc. 2005 Jun 15;127(23):8238-9. doi: 10.1021/ja0505144.

Abstract

Cobalt-filled apoferritin (Co-ferritin) was, for the first time, used as a wet catalyst for the synthesis of single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWNTs) with narrow diameter distribution. Co-ferritins were spin-coated and converted to cobalt nanoparticles by calcination. Using chemical vapor deposition, suspended networks of SWNTs were formed on pillar-structured substrates. The suspended SWNTs show narrow tube diameter distribution with a relatively good graphite structure. By virtue of the low diffusion coefficient of cobalt, Co-ferritin might be more useful for narrow diameter SWNTs growth than ferritins, which encase iron particles.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Apoferritins / chemistry*
  • Cobalt / chemistry*
  • Ferritins / chemistry
  • Horses
  • Iron / chemistry
  • Microscopy, Atomic Force
  • Microscopy, Electron, Transmission
  • Nanotubes, Carbon / chemistry*
  • Spectrum Analysis, Raman

Substances

  • Nanotubes, Carbon
  • Cobalt
  • Ferritins
  • Apoferritins
  • Iron