LARGE-SCALE AND LOW-COST SYNTHESIS OF SINGLE-WALLED CARBON NANOTUBES BY THE CATALYTIC PYROLYSIS OF HYDROCARBONS

Rope-like bundles of single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWNTs) similar to those obtained by laser vaporization and electric-are techniques were synthesized on a relatively large scale and at low cost by the cataly tic decomposition of hydrocarbons at a temperature of about 1200 degre es C using an improved floating catalyst method. The SWNTs thus obtain ed have larger diameters and are self-organized into ropes. The additi on of thiophene was found to be effective in promoting the growth of S WNTs and in increasing the yield of either SWNTs or multiwalled carbon nanotubes under different growth conditions. (C) 1998 American Instit ute of Physics. [S0003-6951(98)01125-5].