Syntheses of CNTs over several iron-supported catalysts: influence of the metallic precursors

This paper describes the synthesis of carbon nanotubes by the catalytic decomposition of acetylene at 700 °C over several Fe/silica catalysts in a thermobalance. Characterization of the catalysts was performed by chemical analyses, N2 adsorption isotherms, X-ray diffraction, temperature-programmed reduction and CO volumetric chemisorption. The carbon products were mainly characterized by transmission electron microscopy. It was found a high influence of the iron precursor used in the synthesis of the catalysts on the final reaction yield and on the characteristics of the carbon products obtained.