Title

Catalyst Poisoning by Amorphous Carbon during Carbon Nanotube Growth: Fact or Fiction?

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

10-2011

Publication Source

ACS Nano

Abstract

The influence of amorphous carbon on FePt catalyst particles under chemical vapor deposition conditions typically applied for CNT growth is examined through two routes. In the first, FePt catalyst particles supported on alumina are exposed to a well-established cyclohexane thermal CVD reaction at various temperatures. At higher temperatures where self-pyrolysis leads to copious amorphous carbon and carbon tar formation, carbon nanotubes are still able to form. In the second route, an amorphous carbon film is first deposited over the catalyst particles prior to the CVD reaction. Even for reactions where further amorphous carbon is deposited due to self-pyrolysis, graphitization is still demonstrated. Our findings reveal that the presence of amorphous carbon does not prevent catalytic hydrocarbon decomposition and graphitization processes. We also show an additional catalytic reaction to be present, catalytic hydrogenation, a process in which carbon in contact with the catalyst surface reacts with H2 to form CH4.

Inclusive pages

8928–8934

ISBN/ISSN

1936-0851

Publisher

American Chemical Society

Volume

5

Peer Reviewed

yes

Issue

11

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