Low-temperature single-wall carbon nanotubes synthesis: feedstock decomposition limited growth

Elena Mora; John M Pigos; Feng Ding; Boris I Yakobson; Avetik R Harutyunyan

doi:10.1021/ja8035724

Low-temperature single-wall carbon nanotubes synthesis: feedstock decomposition limited growth

J Am Chem Soc. 2008 Sep 10;130(36):11840-1. doi: 10.1021/ja8035724. Epub 2008 Aug 16.

Authors

Elena Mora¹, John M Pigos, Feng Ding, Boris I Yakobson, Avetik R Harutyunyan

Affiliation

¹ Honda Research Institute USA Inc., 1381 Kinnear Road, Columbus, Ohio 43212, USA.

PMID: 18707102
DOI: 10.1021/ja8035724

Abstract

We report on the lowest temperature of SWCNT growth using endothermic decomposition of CH4 gas on a specially activated alumina-supported Fe:Mo catalyst. However, the observed lowest growth temperature (560 degrees C) is higher than that reported previously for exothermic feedstock type. Our observation indicates that the decomposition threshold temperature of the feedstock limits the SWCNT growth. This study also suggests that, by using more active carbon feedstock or somehow facilitating its decomposition, one could enable the synthesis of SWCNT at an even lower temperature.