Comparative flame and furnace synthesis of single-walled carbon nanotubes

In this Letter, results are reported for flame synthesis of single-walled carbon nanotubes. A pyrolysis flame of CO/H2 is established with introduction of the nanocatalyst precursor particles as an aerosol created by drying a nebulized solution of iron or iron colloid (in the form of ferrofluid). Results are compared to those produced by entraining the same catalyst aerosol into a tube furnace. Optimum flame gas flows and overall gas composition are reported and interpreted in terms of temperature and particle residence time.