(454g) A Simple and Scalable Catalyst for CVD Synthesis of Single-Walled Carbon Nanotubes (SWNTs)

A silica-supported cobalt catalyst has been developed via incipient wetness impregnation for high yield synthesis of single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWNT). Co/SiO2 impregnated catalysts have not been observed to be efficient for SWNT synthesis. We show, however, that by appropriately choosing the cobalt precursor, effective catalysts can be obtained for SWNT synthesis with yields up to 75 wt %. Detailed characterization indicates that the active sites for SWNT synthesis are small cobalt particles from the reduction of a highly dispersed surface cobalt silicate species. The SWNT produced by this catalyst is of high quality and easy to purify, and the process is simple and scalable.