FE-CATALYZED CARBON NANOTUBE FORMATION

The catalytic production of carbon nanotubes was investigated using va rious iron catalysts. Catalyst samples were made by different preparat ion methods in order to improve both the quality and the quantity of a s-prepared carbon nanotubes. The catalysts were tested in the decompos ition of different hydrocarbons in the temperature range 650-800 degre es C using either fixed bed flow or fluidized bed reactor. The quality of the products was characterized by means of transmission electron m icroscopy. By using Fe/silica, the highest activity ever observed in c atalytic nanotube formation can be reached. Copyright (C) 1996 Elsevie r Science Ltd