Precise Catalyst Production for Carbon Nanotube Synthesis with Targeted Structure Enrichment
Department of Engineering, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 1PZ, UK
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Catalysts 2020, 10(9), 1087; https://doi.org/10.3390/catal10091087
Received: 20 August 2020
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Revised: 15 September 2020
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Accepted: 16 September 2020
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Published: 19 September 2020
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Catalysts in 1D and 2D Materials—Their Role in Synthesis, Properties and Applications)
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 SWCNTs can be achieved. All of the presented techniques show great potential to facilitate the realization of single-chirality SWCNTs production.
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Keywords:
carbon nanotube; catalyst; alloy; nanoparticle; electrospray
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MDPI and ACS Style
Zhang, X.; Deng, Y.; Graves, B.; De Volder, M.; Boies, A. Precise Catalyst Production for Carbon Nanotube Synthesis with Targeted Structure Enrichment. Catalysts 2020, 10, 1087. https://doi.org/10.3390/catal10091087
AMA Style
Zhang X, Deng Y, Graves B, De Volder M, Boies A. Precise Catalyst Production for Carbon Nanotube Synthesis with Targeted Structure Enrichment. Catalysts. 2020; 10(9):1087. https://doi.org/10.3390/catal10091087
Chicago/Turabian StyleZhang, Xiao, Ying Deng, Brian Graves, Michael De Volder, and Adam Boies. 2020. "Precise Catalyst Production for Carbon Nanotube Synthesis with Targeted Structure Enrichment" Catalysts 10, no. 9: 1087. https://doi.org/10.3390/catal10091087
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