A Temperature Window for the Synthesis of Single-Walled Carbon Nanotubes by Catalytic Chemical Vapor Deposition of CH4 over Mo2-Fe10/MgO Catalyst

Abstract

A temperature window for the synthesis of single-walled carbon nanotubes by catalytic chemical vapor deposition of CH4 over Mo2-Fe10/MgO catalyst has been studied by Raman spectroscopy. The results showed that when the temperature is lower than 750°C, there were few SWCNTs formed, and when the temperature is higher than 950°C, mass amorphous carbons were formed in the SWCNTs bundles due to the self-decomposition of CH4. The temperature window of SWCNTs efficient growth is between 800 and 950°C, and the optimum growth temperature is about 900°C. These results were supported by transmission electron microscope images of samples formed under different temperatures. The temperature window is important for large-scale production of SWCNTs by catalytic chemical vapor deposition method.