An easy single step route to synthesize open-ended carbon nanotubes

Sangaraju Shanmugam, Aharon Gedanken

Research output: Contribution to journalLetterpeer-review

Abstract

A simple and easy route is described for the synthesis of multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) by pyrolysis of cetyltrimethyl ammonium decatungstate and cetylpyridinium decatungstate in a specially made LET-LOK union cell. The advantages of using a single component precursor is that the organic moiety present in the precursor acts as the source for carbon and in-situ formed tungsten/tungsten carbide acts as a catalyst for the formation of carbon nanotubes. The method produces large quantities of carbon nanotubes with monodisperse, hollow, open ends. The MWCNTs were characterized systematically using SEM, TEM, HRTEM, Raman and XRD analysis. The MWCNTs have average diameters in the range of 15-35 nm and lengths of several hundreds of nanometers.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)1615-1619
Number of pages5
JournalCarbon
Volume46
Issue number12
DOIs
StatePublished - Oct 2008

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