Controllable growth of single wall carbon nanotubes by pyrolizing acetylene on the floating iron catalysts

Single wall carbon nanotubes (SWNTs) without amorphous carbon coating were prepared by thermally decomposing acetylene (C2H2) at the temperature range 750-1200 degreesC in a floating iron catalyst system. The C2H2 partial pressure was controlled to make a carbon supply limiting growth of SWNTs. The higher reaction temperature above 1100 degreesC seemed not to favor the SWNT production due to the quick thermal decomposition of C2H2. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.