Growth of carbon nanotubules on Fe-loading zeolites and investigation of catalytic active center

Catalytic formation of carbon nanotubes on Fe-loading zeolite supports with different pore sizes was investigated. The preparation methods of catalysts strongly affected the quality of the deposited carbon materials. If the support was steamed or chemically treated to enlarge the pore size, the diameter of the formed carbon nanotubes was correspondingly enlarged. The pore size of mesoporous materials also showed effect on the diameter and pore size of carbon nanotubes. Mِssbauer signals showed that the Fe(II) species (FeO) seemed to catalyze the formation of carbon nanotubes.