Narrow (n,m)-Distribution of Single-Walled Carbon Nanotubes Grown Using a Solid Supported Catalyst

• Published in: Journal of the American Chemical Society Vol. 125; no. 37; pp. 11186 - 11187
• Main Authors: Bachilo, Sergei M, Balzano, Leandro, Herrera, Jose E, Pompeo, Francisco, Resasco, Daniel E, Weisman, R. Bruce
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Washington, DC American Chemical Society 17.09.2003
• Subjects: Catalysis; Catalysts: preparations and properties; Chemistry; Exact sciences and technology; General and physical chemistry; Theory of reactions, general kinetics. Catalysis. Nomenclature, chemical documentation, computer chemistry; Mixed catalyst; Particle size; Carbon nanotubes; Transition metal; Experimental study; Metal particle; Cobalt; Molybdenum; Supported catalyst; Fluorescence spectrometry; Surface structure; Surface properties; Fluorescence microscopy
• ISSN: 0002-7863; 1520-5126
• DOI: 10.1021/ja036622c

Unusually structure-selective growth of single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWNTs) has been attained using a CVD method with a solid supported catalyst. In this method, CO feedstock disproportionates on silica-supported catalytic nanoclusters of Co that are formed in situ from mixed salts of Co and Mo. The nanotube products are analyzed by spectrofluorimetry to reveal distributions resolved at the level of individual (n,m) structures. Two structures, (6,5) and (7,5), together dominate the semiconducting nanotube distribution and comprise more than one-half of that population. The average diameter of produced SWNTs is only 0.81 nm, and a strong propensity is found favoring chiral angles near the armchair limit.