A temperature window for the synthesis of single-walled carbon nanotubes by catalytic chemical vapor deposition of CH4 over Mo-Fe/MgO catalyst

A temperature window of single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) growth has been studied by Raman spectroscopy. The results presented when temperature lower than 750 °C, there were few SWCNTs formed, and when temperature higher than 900 °C, mass amorphous carbons were formed in the SWCNTs bundles due to the self-decomposition of CH4. The temperature window of SWCNTs efficiently growth is between 800 and 900 °C, and the optimum growth temperature is about 850 °C. These results were supported by transmission electron microscope images of samples formed under different temperature. The temperature window is important for large-scale production of SWCNTs by catalytic chemical vapor deposition method.