Impact of catalyst coarsening on the formation of single-wall carbon nanotubes

The single-wall carbon nanotube (SWCN) yield as a function of the gas flow velocity for different catalyst contents in a furnace-based pulsed laser ev aporation method is shown to depend sensitively on the size distribution an d growth conditions of the condensed catalyst nanoparticles in the gas phas e. In particular, accelerated particle coarsening should be avoided. Conseq uently, a high number density of small catalyst nanoparticles leads to a hi gh nanotube yield within the timescale of a few hundred milliseconds. Hence , the attainment of enhanced particle growth control will enable a high yie ld evaporation-based synthesis of high-quality SWCNT. (C) 2001 Elsevier Sci ence B.V. All rights reserved.