Solvothermal synthesis of hair-like carbon nanotubes onto sub-micron-sized spherical metal oxide catalyst cores.

Long- and uniform-length, and high-density hair-like carbon nanotubes (CNTs) were produced by CNT growth on sub-micron-sized spherical catalyst supports. The nanosized catalysts (FeO , CoO , and NiO ) that were supported in/on the sub-micron-sized spherical metal oxides (TiO, ZrO, SnO, and CeO) were prepared one-step solvothermal and/or two-step impregnation methods. The nanosized catalysts supported in/on the spherical metal oxide supports were converted into CNT conjugates with the CNT-hair morphology a chemical thermal vapor deposition technique using ethyne gas as a carbon source; the CNTs grew on the central spherical metal oxide core under the base growth process conditions.