Fantastic Improvement in Quality and Quantity of Carbon Nanotubes Synthesized on Al<SUB>2</SUB>O<SUB>3</SUB>–SiO<SUB>2</SUB> Supports by N<SUB>2</SUB> Pretreatment

Abstract

The raw materials, condition and the method of preparing the catalysts play an important role in the growth of high quality Carbon Nanotubes by Catalytic Chemical Vapor Deposition method. In this work, the efficiency of Carbon Nanotubes growth was increased by a simple controlled preheating of the catalyst in N2 atmosphere. Supports were prepared by mixing alumina powder with tetraethyl orthosilicate (TEOS) by a chemical method at low temperature. Afterwards, the supports were impregnated with iron. The dried and ground catalyst was heated in N2 atmosphere at 500 degrees C for 1 hour followed by cooling down to room temperature. Methane was passed over the prepared catalyst bed at 900 degrees C. Supports, supported catalysts and Carbon Nanotubes samples have been characterized by Transmission Electron Microscopy, Scanning Electron Microscopy, Gas Adsorption/Desorption Analysis, X-Ray Diffraction and Raman Spectroscopy. Scanning Electron Microscopy images of the nanotubes showed a drastic increase in the growth rate, length and straightness of the Nanotubes in comparison to the growth without preheating and even preheating in air atmosphere. Raman Spectroscopy of the samples and Transmission Electron Microscopy pictures showed bundles, mostly equi-diameter Single Wall Nanotubes. In fact, the growth rate, length, and purity of the Nanotubes, also the homogeneity of the tubes improved. The conclusion can be made with the help of proposed theory of nucleation and growth of Nanotubes based on comparative results of the characterizations with and without preheat-treatment. It seems that the preheat-treatment in N2 affected the catalyst structure and its interaction with support as well as distribution of the catalyst particles on the support. These changes in return affect the quality and quantity of final production.