Role of Surface Cobalt Silicate in Single-Walled Carbon Nanotube Synthesis from Silica-Supported Cobalt Catalysts

Journal Article · Fri Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 2010 · ACS Nano

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1021/nn901812t· OSTI ID:1020158

Li, N; Wang, X; Derrouiche, S; Haller, G; Pfefferle, L

A silica-supported cobalt catalyst has been developed via incipient wetness impregnation for high-yield synthesis of single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWNTs). Co/SiO{sub 2}-impregnated catalysts have not been observed to be efficient for SWNT synthesis. Using an appropriately chosen precursor, we show that effective catalysts can be obtained for SWNT synthesis with yields up to 75 wt %. Detailed characterization indicates that the active sites for SWNT synthesis are small cobalt particles resulting from the reduction of a highly dispersed surface cobalt silicate species. The SWNTs produced by this catalyst are of high quality and easy to purify, and the process is simple and scalable.

• Research Organization: Brookhaven National Lab. (BNL), Upton, NY (United States). National Synchrotron Light Source
• Sponsoring Organization: DOE - OFFICE OF SCIENCE
• DOE Contract Number: DE-AC02-98CH10886
• OSTI ID: 1020158
• Report Number(s): BNL-96008-2011-JA; TRN: US201116%%138
• Journal Information: ACS Nano, Vol. 4, Issue 3; ISSN 1936-0851
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE
CARBON
CATALYSTS
CHEMICAL VAPOR DEPOSITION
COBALT
COBALT SILICATES
IMPREGNATION
NANOTUBES
PRECURSOR
SYNTHESIS
national synchrotron light source