Fe-catalyzed carbon nanotube formation Original Research Article

The catalytic production of carbon nanotubes was investigated using various iron catalysts. Catalyst samples were made by different preparation methods in order to improve both the quality and the quantity of as-prepared carbon nanotubes. The catalysts were tested in the decomposition of different hydrocarbons in the temperature range 650–800 °C using either fixed bed flow or fluidized bed reactor. The quality of the products was characterized by means of transmission electron microscopy. By using Fe/silica, the highest activity ever observed in catalytic nanotube formation can be reached.