Abstract
Matchstick-like carbon nanotubes (CNTs) have been synthesized by catalytic pyrolysis of thiophene, using a mixture of cobalt nitrate and calcium nitrate as a catalyst. The nanotubes thus grown are aligned, straight, and short, and have spherical heads at their tips. High resolution transmission electron microscopy, selected area electron diffraction, and energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy results indicate that the spherical heads of the matchstick-like CNTs are crystalline Co9S8 nanoparticles and the CNTs have herringbone-type graphite structure. The effect of temperature on the formation of the matchstick-like CNTs has been investigated. A simple growth model is proposed to describe the growth process of the matchstick-like CNTs.
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