Macroscopic shaping of carbon nanotubes with high specific surface area and full accessibility

Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) with controlled macroscopic shape, i.e. beads, extrudates, disk, etc., were prepared by gelation process. The formed CNT beads (1-2mm) were constituted by highly entangled CNT forming a dense network exhibiting a rather high specific surface (>180m2.g−1) and also full porous network accessibility. The highly opened porosity of this material also drastically reduces the overall pressure drop across the packed bed compared to the bulk CNT material. The macroscopic shaping eases the handling and the transport of these nanoscopic materials and permits the direct use of them as catalyst supports in conventional catalytic processes. [Display omitted] ► Composites made from macroscopic shaping of carbon nanotubes were prepared. ► The beads display high specific surface area similar to that of the pristine CNTs. ► This macroscopic shaping contributed to extremely low pressure drop.