Thiophene-based Ni-coordination polymer as a catalyst precursor and promoter for multi-walled carbon nanotubes synthesis in CVD

Highlights: • A new Ni-CP acts as a combined catalyst precursor and promoter for preparing MWCNTs. • We have systematically investigated effects of pre-treatment and growth conditions. • The catalyst can efficiently tune the morphology, yield and quality of MWCNTs. • The highest yield of MWCNTs is 10 times as that of previous work. • CP 1 and MWCNT can be potential sorbents for the removal of dye species from water. Enormous technological promise of multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) can only be harnessed with the premise of controllable synthesis of MWCNTs, where catalyst precursor and promoter play vital roles. Herein, we have systematically investigated the effects of pre-treatment of catalyst precursor and promoter and growth conditions of MWCNTs. The highest yield of MWCNTs from thiophene-based Ni-coordination polymer is 10 times as that of our previous work. The results indicate that catalyst precursor and promoter can efficiently tune the morphology, yield and quality of MWCNTs.