Synthesis of single-walled carbon nanotubes by chemical vapor deposition using sodium chloride support

Bundled single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) together with multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) were directly grown on a water-soluble support catalyst that was prepared via sublimation of ferrocene on sodium chloride. The synthesis of nanotubes was carried out at a growth temperature of 700 °C in a combined methane and nitrogen environment of 1:1 volumetric ratio at a total flowrate of 80 ml/min for 1 h in a vertical reactor. Characterization techniques such as scanning electron microscope, transmission electron microscope, thermogravimetric analysis, and Raman spectroscopy were employed to study the carbon deposits. Transmission electron microscope shows the presence of SWCNTs with an average diameter of ca. 1.18 nm on the catalyst. The radial breathing mode (RBM) of Raman for shifts below 350 cm−1 further confirmed the presence of SWCNTs and the diameters were calculated to be 0.93, 1.36, 1.5 and 1.85 nm.