Pyrolytic synthesis of long strands of large diameter single-walled carbon nanotubes at atmospheric pressure in the absence of sulphur and hydrogen

We describe the synthesis of cm-long strands consisting of single-walled carbon nanotube ropes. The method involves the thermolysis of ferrocene (FeCp2)-alcohol solutions under an Ar atmosphere at 800-950 °C. The tubes within strands could exhibit large diameters (2-3.5 nm OD) in high yields by either increasing the ferrocene concentration in the alcohol solution or by increasing the pyrolysis temperature. We noted that the nanotube material with the highest degree of crystallinity was produced at 950 °C, and as the ferrocene concentration in the alcohol solution increases (e.g., 1.2 wt%), the tubes tend to be metallic. This method appears to be simple, safer and more efficient than others reported in the literature because it does not require vacuum, sulphur agents, relatively high temperatures or large amounts of H2.