title: Diameter controlled chemical vapor deposition synthesis of single-walled carbon nanotubes.
abstract: In this study, we systematically investigated the influence of catalyst preparation procedures on the mean diameter of single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWNTs) synthesized by the alcohol catalytic chemical vapor deposition (ACCVD) process. It was found that the SWNT diameter is dependent upon both reduction temperature and time, with lower reduction temperature and/or shorter reduction time resulting in smaller diameter SWNTs. The morphology of the SWNTs also changed from vertically aligned to randomly oriented when the reduction temperature was below 500 degrees C. We also found that introducing a small amount of water during the catalyst reduction stage significantly decreased the mean diameter of the SWNTs. Lastly, we report on the use of a new binary catalyst system in which rhodium was combined with cobalt. This new Co/Rh combination produced SWNTs of smaller diameter than the conventional Co/Mo catalyst.
authors.affiliation: Department of Mechanical Engineering, The University of Tokyo, 7-3-1 Hongo, Bunkyo-Ku, Tokyo 113-8656, Japan.
authors.forename: Theerapol
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Thurakitseree
authors.forename: Erik
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Einarsson
authors.forename: Rong
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Xiang
authors.forename: Pei
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Zhao
authors.forename: Shinya
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Aikawa
authors.forename: Shohei
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Chiashi
authors.forename: Junichiro
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Shiomi
authors.forename: Shigeo
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Maruyama
mesh_terms: D003460:Crystallization / Q000379:methods*; D005740:Gases / Q000737:chemistry*; D046911:Macromolecular Substances / Q000737:chemistry; D008422:Materials Testing; D008968:Molecular Conformation; D037742:Nanotubes, Carbon / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D010316:Particle Size; D013499:Surface Properties
chemical_list: D005740:Gases; D046911:Macromolecular Substances; D037742:Nanotubes, Carbon