The effect of arylferrocene ring substituents on the synthesis of multi-walled carbon nanotubes

The synthesis of shaped carbon nanomaterials (SCNMs) such as carbon nanotubes (CNTs), amorphous carbon, carbon fibres (CFs) and carbon spheres (CSs) was achieved using para-substituted arylferrocenes, FcPhX (X = H, OH, Br, COCH3) or a mixture of ferrocene (FcH) and substituted benzenes (PhX; X = H, OH, Br, COCH3). The reactions were carried out by an injection chemical vapour deposition (CVD) method using toluene solutions (carrier gas: 5% H2 in Ar at a flow rate of 100 ml/min) in the temperature range of 800–1000 °C. In most instances multi-walled CNTs (MWCNTs) were produced. Variations in the concentrations of precursor catalysts, the injection rate and temperature affected the type, distribution and dimensions of the SCNMs produced. The overall finding is that the presence of Br and O in these studies significantly reduces CNT growth. A comparative study on the effect of FcPhX versus FcH/PhX mixtures was investigated. The SCNMs were characterized by transmission electron microscopy (TEM), Raman spectroscopy and thermal gravimetric analysis (TGA).

Graphical abstractThe synthesis of shaped carbon nanomaterials such as carbon nanotubes (CNT), amorphous carbon, carbon fibres and carbon spheres was achieved using para-substituted arylferrocenes, FcPhX (X = H, OH, Br, COCH3) or a mixture of ferrocene (FcH) and substituted benzenes (PhX; X = H, OH, Br, COCH3) and the presence of Br and O significantly reduced CNT growth.Figure optionsDownload full-size imageDownload as PowerPoint slide