Engineering solvothermal reactions to produce multi-walled carbon nanotubes

Large multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) have been synthesized by the reaction of polytetrafluoroethylene and ethanol with metallic lithium under solvothermal conditions. Production of the MWCNTs depends on a series of coupled reactions that utilize the liberation of chemical energy in the thermo-dynamically closed system. Various characterization studies show tubes with diameters of 50-150 nm and micrometer lengths. The interwall spacing was found to be 0.39 +/- 0.04 nm. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy reveals the tubes are functionalized with up to 2.2 %/wt. fluorine and 6.0 %/wt. oxygen.