Flame Synthesis of Metal-Catalyzed Single-Wall Carbon Nanotubes

In the work presented here, flame conditions are tailored to create a synergy between various metallic additives (cobaltocene, nickelocene, cobalt acetylacetonate, and ferrocene) and the flame environment to synthesize the desirable product of single-wall carbon nanotubes. The flame conditions for synthesis of the nanotubes is explored by using C2H2, C2H4 and CO in combination with H2, CH4 or air along with an inert carrier (He, N2 or Ar) over a range of concentrations. Possible mechanisms for the encapsulation of the particles within a carbonaceous matrix are considered.