Fine-tuning of spark-discharge aerosol CVD reactor for single-walled carbon nanotube growth: The role of ex situ nucleation

Vsevolod Ya Iakovlev, Dmitry V. Krasnikov*, Eldar M. Khabushev, Alena A. Alekseeva, Artem K. Grebenko, Alexey P. Tsapenko, Boris Yu Zabelich, Julia V. Kolodiazhnaia, Albert G. Nasibulin

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticleScientificpeer-review

21 Citations (Scopus)
58 Downloads (Pure)

Abstract

We report a development of recently designed apparatus equipped with a spark discharge generator of catalytic nanoparticles for robust aerosol CVD synthesis of single-walled carbon nanotubes. We achieve a profound control over the diameter distribution and the defectiveness of carbon nanotubes produced. By providing a justified comparison of the apparatus with the most abundant aerosol CVD reactor utilizing ferrocene as a catalyst precursor, we reveal the role of the activation procedure: while spark-discharge generator provides aerosol of nanoparticles (ex situ route), the ferrocene vapor decomposes in the nanotube growth zone providing an in situ formation of the catalyst. With other parameters being equal, we reveal the differences in the nanotube growth (diameter and length distribution, yield, defectiveness) employing a comprehensive set of methods (the analysis of differential mobility of the aerosol particles, optical spectroscopy, scanning and transmission electron microscopy, Raman spectroscopy, and atomic force microscopy). We show the ex situ activation in the spark discharge reactor to provide a lower utilization degree of the nanoparticles due to over-coagulation. However, the same method provides an independence of the key performance parameters of the nanotubes opening a room for scaling the apparatus.

Original languageEnglish
Article number123073
Number of pages9
JournalChemical Engineering Journal
Volume383
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 1 Mar 2020
MoE publication typeA1 Journal article-refereed

Keywords

  • Aerosol CVD synthesis
  • Catalyst activation
  • Differential mobility analyzer
  • Floating catalyst
  • Single-walled carbon nanotubes
  • Spark-discharge generator

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