Synthesis of carbon nanotubes and nanoballs by swirled floating catalyst chemical vapour deposition method

Abstract

The ferrocene catalysed decomposition of acetylene by swirled floating chemical vapour deposition method was studied in this work. Analyses of the products formed confirm the presence of carbon nanotubes and carbon nanoballs. These materials were synthesized at different production conditions; high flow rates of carbon source and carrier gases as well as low decomposition temperature were found to be responsible for the formation of CNBs. TEM images also show that both CNTs and CNBs contain low contents of iron impurities and amorphous carbons.