Studies of LaNiO3 used as a precursor for catalytic carbon nanotubes growth

The growth of the carbon nanotubes is carried out on nickel containing catalysts. A fine distribution of metal nanoparticles is obtained by the reduction in situ of a perovskite phase. The LaNiO3 perovskite is synthesized by three different methods in order to compare the nature of the tubes obtained after CH4-CVD. These structures are analyzed by DRX, H-2-TPR and SEM before catalytic test. After CVD, the internal diameter of the tubes is constant no matter the method of preparation of the perovskite and the external diameter depends on the distribution of the metallic particles. The homogeneous distribution of the CNT is related to the homogeneous distribution of the metallic particles obtained after reduction under methane. (c) 2006 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.