The effect of catalyst calcination temperature on the diameter of carbon nanotubes synthesized by the decomposition of methane

The effect of catalyst calcination temperature on the uniformity of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) diameter synthesized by the decomposition of methane was studied. The catalysts used were CoO–MoO/Al2O3 without prior reduction in hydrogen. The results show that the catalyst calcination temperature greatly affects the uniformity of the diameter. The CNTs obtained from CoO–MoO/Al2O3 catalysts, calcined at 300 °C, 450 °C, 600 °C, and 700 °C had diameters of 13.4 ± 8.4, 12.6 ± 5.1, 10.7 ± 3.2, and 9.0 ± 1.4 nm, respectively, showing that an increase in catalyst calcination temperature produces a smaller diameter and narrower diameter distribution. The catalyst calcined at 750 °C was inactive in methane decomposition. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) studies showed that CNTs grown on the catalyst calcined at 700 °C were of uniform diameter and formed a dense interwoven covering. High-resolution TEM shows that these CNTs had walls of highly graphitized parallel graphenes.