Selective growth of SWNTs on partially reduced monometallic cobalt catalyst

Abstract

SiO(2) supported cobalt (Co) catalyst could be partially reduced and anchored by unreduced Co ions during a carbon monoxide (CO) chemical vapor deposition (CVD) process. This resulted in the formation of sub-nanometre metallic Co clusters catalyzing the growth of single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWNTs) with a narrow diameter distribution.