Solid-phase synthesis of multi-walled carbon nanotubes from butadiynyl-ferrocene-containing compounds

Multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) have been synthesized from novel butadiynyl-ferrocene-containing compounds. The formation of the MWCNTs occurs in the solid phase at ambient pressure in a typical high-temperature furnace. Heat treatment of the various compounds to temperatures up to 1300 °C under atmospheric pressure resulted in the decomposition of the ferrocene units and the formation of Fe nanoparticles in the polymeric-to-carbon nanoparticle-to-carbon nanotube compositions. The Fe atoms, clusters, and/or nanoparticles are the key to the formation of the carbon nanotubes. X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, and transmission electron microscopy studies show the presence of a large quantity of MWCNTs in the carbonaceous solid residue.