Multiwalled carbon nanotubes synthesis from methane using a stainless steel foils as a catalyst

Abstract

In this study, a thin stainless-steel foil was used as a catalyst for carbon nanotubes (CNTs) using methane as a carbon source via the chemical vapor deposition (CVD) method. Our results revealed that pre-treatment step of the catalyst plays an important role in CNT formation. In our experiments, a catalyst pre-treatment temperature of 850 oC have been found to facilitate the surface roughness and provide more active nucleation sites for CNTs formation. Multiwalled CNTs with 6 layers, their diameters of 10 – 20 nm and their length of app. 300 nm were grown. This finding might lead to a process for improving the quality of MWCNTs grown on steel foil as catalyst.