CARBON NANOTUBE PREPARED BY CATALYTIC PYR OLYSIS OF METHANE

Carbon nanotube can be produced by the catalytic pyrolysis of methane on Ni catalyst at 450 degrees C. TEM observation reveals that almost a ll the carbon filament produced by this method was in the form of tubu lar structure, Outer-diameter, length of the carbon nanotube as well a s their productivity are governed by reaction temperature and the perf ormance of the catalyst, The separation and purification of the carbon nanotube produced from the catalyst powder are easily performed by wa shing with aqueous solution of nitric acid followed by oven-drying at 200 degrees C; nearly all powder of the catalyst can be removed away a nd comparatively pure carbon nanotube can be obtained.