Precise catalyst production for carbon nanotube synthesis with targeted structure enrichment
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Publication Date
2020-09-01Journal Title
Catalysts
ISSN
2073-4344
Publisher
MDPI AG
Volume
10
Issue
9
Pages
1-11
Type
Article
This Version
AM
Metadata
Show full item recordCitation
Zhang, X., Deng, Y., Graves, B., De Volder, M., & Boies, A. (2020). Precise catalyst production for carbon nanotube synthesis with targeted structure enrichment. Catalysts, 10 (9), 1-11. https://doi.org/10.3390/catal10091087
Abstract
The direct growth of single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) with a narrow distribution of diameter or chirality remains elusive despite significant benefits in properties and applications. Nanoparticle catalysts are vital for SWCNT synthesis, but how to precisely manipulate their chemistry, size, concentration, and deposition remains difficult, especially within a continuous production process from the gas-phase. Here, we demonstrate the preparation of W6Co7 alloyed nanoparticle catalysts with precisely tunable stoichiometry using electrospray, which remain solid state during SWCNT growth. We also demonstrate continuous production of liquid iron nanoparticles with in-line size selection. With the precise size manipulation of catalysts in the range of 1-5 nm, and a nearly monodisperse distribution (σg < 1.2), an excellent size selection of SWCNT can be achieved. All of the presented techniques show great potential to facilitate the realization of single-chirality SWCNT production.
Sponsorship
EPSRC (EP/M015211/1)
EPSRC (EP/M015211/1)
EPSRC (EP/P030467/1)
Embargo Lift Date
2023-09-16
Identifiers
External DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/catal10091087
This record's URL: https://www.repository.cam.ac.uk/handle/1810/310393
Rights
All rights reserved