Synthesis of helical carbon nanotubes, worm-like carbon nanotubes and nanocoils at 450 °C and their magnetic properties

Xiaosi Qi, Wei Zhong*, Yu Deng, Chaktong Au, Youwei Du

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalJournal articlepeer-review

71 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

High purity (99.21 wt.%) helical carbon nanotubes (HCNTs) were synthesized in large quantity over Fe nanoparticles (fabricated using a coprecipitation/hydrogen reduction method) by acetylene decomposition at 450 °C. Field-emission and transmission electron microscope images reveal that the selectivity to HCNTs (with two or three coiled nanotubes connected to a catalyst nanoparticle) is up to ca. 93%. The yield of HCNTs (as defined by the equation: yield = frac(mtotal - mcatalyst, mcatalyst) × 100 %) is ca. 7474% in a run of 6 h, higher than any of those reported in the literature. If hydrogen was introduced during acetylene decomposition for ca. 30 min, the HCNTs mainly consisted of two coiled tubes connected to a catalyst nanoparticle, and carbon nanocoils (CNCs) of different structures were generated. If hydrogen was present throughout acetylene decomposition, worm-like carbon nanotubes (CNTs) as well as CNCs were produced in large quantities. Because the HCNTs and worm-like CNTs are attached to Fe nanoparticles, the nanomaterials are high in magnetization. Crown

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)365-376
Number of pages12
JournalCarbon
Volume48
Issue number2
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Feb 2010

Scopus Subject Areas

  • General Chemistry
  • General Materials Science

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