Carbon nanotube synthesis and the role of catalyst

Abstract

This chapter describes the synthesis of single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) by chemical vapour deposition (CVD). Nanoparticles called catalyst are indispensable to grow SWCNTs. Although commonly used catalyst species are iron-group metals, Fe, Co and Ni, they are not limited to metals but also encompass nonmetallic species. The essential role of the catalyst particle is to provide a large curvature surface for the formation of cap structure that includes five-membered rings and acts as the nucleus of SWCNT.