Catalytic synthesis of carbon nanostructures using Fe(OH)3/Al as catalyst precursors

Fe(OH)3/Al with different Fe contents was prepared using a new deposition–precipitation reaction. Then mixed oxides were obtained by calcination of these precursors, and their catalytic activities were examined during synthesis of various carbon nanostructures. It was found that carbon nanotubes were synthesized using a Fe/Al2O3 catalyst with 10 wt% Fe, while carbon coated metal nanoparticles resulted from Fe/Al2O3 catalyst with 15 wt% Fe, but for the Fe/Al2O3 catalyst with 5 wt% Fe, only amorphous carbon has been obtained.