Trial for diameter-selective synthesis of single-walled carbon nanotubes

The diameter-controlled synthesis of single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWNTs) has been examined experimentally. The catalysis of the Rh and Pd atoms has been confirmed by blending with Co atoms at 950 °C in a furnace, although the Rh/Pd catalyst has not been recorded to act efficiently at this temperature before. Raman spectra indicate that the Rh/Co and Pd/Co catalysts can synthesize narrow-diameter SWNTs more selectively than the Fe/Co and Ni/Co catalysts, which can only synthesize SWNTs with slightly larger diameters. These results suggest that by changing the combination of catalysts, the persistent problem of controlling the diameter of SWNTs can be solved without any expensive setup or complicated techniques.