The large-scale production of carbon nanotubes in a nano-agglomerate fluidized-bed reactor

Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) produced by catalytic chemical vapor deposition (CCVD) can be formed into loose agglomerates that can be fluidized during the growth process. This provides a way to prepare high-quality CNTs on a large scale at low cost in a nano-agglomerate fluidized-bed reactor (NAFBR). With the present fluidized-bed reactor design and catalyst preparation, 50 kg/day of carbon materials was synthesized, and a high yield of 70-80% CNTs was obtained. Fluidization characteristics distinctive to CNT growth in a fluidized-bed reactor are discussed. (C) 2002 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.