Carbon Nanotubes Grown by catalytic decomposition of ethylene over F2O3/Al2O3 catalyst

摘要

In this study, F2O3/Al2O3 catalyst was prepared by using co-precipitation method. Thiscatalyst was used to grow carbon nanotubes (CNTs) bundles by catalytic decompositionof ethylene in a floating catalytic chemical vapor deposition reactor. It was noticed thatnanotubes yield increased with an increase in F2O3/Al2O3 weight. The carbon yieldobtained with different weights of F2O3/Al2O3 was ranging from 68-93%. However, thesurface defects in the grown tubes were also increased with an increase in the catalystweight. High yield with the low surface defects and impurities was found for 0.3 gcatalyst. The formation of CNTs bundles was attributed to the well-dispersed Feparticles at the catalyst surface. These Fe particles were acting as nuclei for the CNTsgrowth. The van der Waals forces were acting between the as-grown individual CNTs.These forces make them to grow in the same direction in the form of bundles.