Self-assembled growth of single-walled carbon nanotubes by pyrolysis of metalorganic precursor

Carbon nanotubes with controllable diameters from similar to1 to 200 nm were synthesized by pyrolysis of iron phthalocyanine at similar to900 degreesC under argon gas flow. Diameters of nanotubes were controlled by varying the metal concentration, using the solid phase dilution of iron phthalocyanine with metal-free phthalocyanine to various degrees. Self-assembled single-walled carbon nanotubes were obtained by using iron phthalocyanine precursor diluted with metal-free phthalocyanine in 1:24 molar ratio. (C) 2003 American Institute of Physics.