New organometallic precursor catalysts applied to MWCNT synthesis by spray-pirolysis

Large-scale multi-wall carbon nanotubes have been synthesized by spray pyrolysis method during the decomposition of toluene and using a novel organometallic precursor catalyst of iron: [(Pentyl)(4)N](3)FeBr3Cl3. The catalyst precursor was previously synthesized in aqueous solution with FeCl3 and (Pentyl)(4)NBr. The FTIR, UV and TGA-DTA results of catalyst precursor confirm the structure of the Fe complex. The microscopy studies show the carbon nanotubes disorder formation with diameters between 20 and 50 nm and length of few hundreds of micrometers. (c) 2006 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.