Methanol-mediated growth of carbon nanotubes

A new approach for the growth of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) is reported. In particular, the growth is mediated by adding methanol into n-hexane with dissolved ferrocene. The first mediating effect is that the thermal decomposition of n-hexane and consequent widespread formation of carbon particles can be suppressed. Thus, truly continuous production of CNTs can be realized at high temperature. The second mediating effect is that with increasing methanol addition the proportion of carbon which can be used for CNT growth is decreased. Therefore, CNTs with different diameters or different numbers of graphitic layers can be produced individually.