Geomimetic catalysis: From volcanic stones to ultra-selective Fe–Mo/Al2O3–TiO2 catalysts for few-walled carbon nanotube production Original Research Article

Volcanic stones from the Greek island of Santorini have been used as natural catalysts for the growth of multiwalled carbon nanotubes by chemical vapor deposition. In a unique geomimetic experiment, we show that a synthetic catalyst mimicking the natural rock can lead to highly selective production of thin multiwalled tubes.