Synthesis reactions were carried out by chemical vapor deposition using iron catalyst supported on aluminum hydroxide at 400 °C and 420 °C, in the presence of argon as carrier gas and acetylene as carbon source. The aluminum hydroxide support was separated by refluxing the samples in 40% NaOH solution for 2 h and 36% HCl solution for 24 h, respectively. The samples were characterized by field-emission scanning electron microscopy, energy dispersive spectroscopy, high-resolution transmission electron microscopy and X-ray diffraction. The results show that carbon nanotubes were the main products at 420 °C, while large scale high purity nano onion-like fullerenes encapsulating Fe3C, with almost uniform sizes ranging from 10-50 nm, were obtained at the low temperature of 400 °C.
