Atomic-scale analysis on the role of molybdenum in iron-catalyzed carbon nanotube growth

Abstract

We have elucidated the synergetic role played by molybdenum In iron-catalyzed chemical vapor deposition growth of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) by In situ environmental transmission electron microscopy. Molybdenum can be well accommodated by Fe-based carbide nanoparticle catalysts of M23C 6-Type structure (M = Fe and Mo). We have also shown that molybdenum suppresses the nucleation of iron compounds that are known to exhibit no catalytic activity for the growth of CNTs. © 2009 American Chemical Society.