The synthesis of single-walled carbon nanotubes over an Al2O3Fe2O3 binary aerogel catalyst

An Al2O3Fe2O3 binary aerogel was used as a catalyst for the synthesis of singlewalled carbon nanotubes. The carbon products were synthesized by catalytic decomposition of methane or a CH4/H2 mixture at 820-960 deg. C for 30 min. The influence of preparation atmosphere on the growth of single-walled carbon nanotubes was investigated. The morphology and the structure of carbon products were investigated by TEM, HRTEM and Raman spectroscopy analyses. The carbon products prepared under a methane atmosphere are mainly amorphous. High-purity individual single walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) and bundles were synthesized under the mixed atmosphere of CH4/H2. The results show that the atmospheres exhibit a close relationship to the yield and structure of carbon products formed