Synthesis of uniform single-wall carbon nanotubes using Mn12 clusters as the catalyst precursor

•We developed an uncommon catalyst precursor to synthesize uniform SWCNTs.•We examined the relationship between the diameter of Mn nanoparticles and SWCNTs.•Uniform catalyst particles are helpful to control the diameter of as-grown SWCNTs.•A potential growth mechanism was analyzed and proposed based on experimental results.

Structure-selective synthesis of single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) is of critical importance while an elaborative choice of catalysts is one of the feasible strategies toward such a purpose. Consequently, an investigation of how to synthesize uniform single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) using Mn12 clusters as the catalyst precursor by means of mist flow chemical vapor deposition (CVD) has been implemented. As a result, according to Raman mapping and calculated diameter distribution, the diameter of as-grown SWCNTs is homogeneously around 1.51 ± 0.31 nm even though Mn is rarely used as the catalyst for the synthesis of SWCNTs individually. The promising results may enlighten us with new experimental information for understanding the growth mechanism of SWCNTs, which is beneficial for their controllable synthesis in the future.

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