Growth of single-walled carbon nanotubes by a novel technique using nanosized graphite as carbon source

Single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCN) have been produced treating nanosized graphitic powders with atomic hydrogen fluxes in a purpose-designed reactor. The Fe-catalyzed synthesis process yielded rather dense networks of nanotubes forming continuous layers adherent to the substrates. Raman spectroscopy in the 140–250 cm−1 region, high-resolution transmission electron microscopy and reflection electron diffraction in selected area configuration have been used to define the structural details of the nanotubes. The analysis evidenced a nanotubes population belonging prevalently to the (n,0) achiral symmetry subclass. This new experimental approach for SWCNs growth provides promising conditions for maximizing yields and generating selected tubular configurations.