Carbon Nanotubes Grown with Non-Ferromagnetic Catalysts in Alcohol CVD

Abstract

In this contribution we present high resolution transmission electron microscopy (HR-TEM) and Raman studies on the synthesis of carbon nanotubes using platinum supported on MgO in alcohol - chemical vapour deposition (A-CVD). For comparison copper and iron catalysts mixed with the same metal loading in MgO and the same process parameters in A-CVD have been tested. Our findings show that the choice of catalyst utilized under the same experimental conditions strongly influences the final morphology of the carbon nanostructures. Application of Pt/MgO in CVD results in doublewalled carbon nanotubes (DWCNT) and multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNT). Cu/MgO mixtures lead to the synthesis of copper filled multiwalled carbon nanotubes (Cu-MWCNT) and iron capsules surrounded by multiwalled carbon shells (Fe-MWCS), respectively. Our findings indicate that the three discussed metals interact differently with the substrate leading to the formation of different sized catalyst particles. The analysis of the particles size in the catalyst precursors and in the final products is also described in this contribution.