Single-wall carbon nanotubes from coal

We demonstrate that single-wall carbon nanotubes (SWNT) can be produced by an are-discharge method using a catalyzed coal carbon source. Characterizat ion by resonant Raman scattering and electron microscopy confirm that this material contains SWNT with properties similar to graphite-derived SWNT. 'W eb-like' material from our growth process has an estimated yield of 45 wt.% of carbon as SWNT, while the average chamber yield is approximately 20 wt. % C, as determined by FT-Raman and HRSEM measurements. (C) 1999 Elsevier Sc ience B.V. All rights reserved.