Gas-phase growth of diameter-controlled carbon nanotubes

We demonstrate gas-phase (aerosol) generation of diameter-controlled carbon nanotubes (CNTs) by employing size-controlled monodisperse nickel nanoparticles produced by the combination of pulsed laser ablation and electrostatic classification. The electrostatic classifier sorted agglomerated mono-area nickel particles, and then a subsequent heating process at similar to 1200 degrees C created sintered single primary particles with very narrow size distribution. These isolated single primary particles were then sent to an aerosol reactor where free-flight CNTs were grown with acetylene and hydrogen mix at temperature of similar to 750 degrees C. The resulting CNTs formed in this continuous gas-phase process were found to have a uniform diameter, which is commensurate with the diameter of the size-controlled catalytic nickel particles. (c) 2006 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.