Study on the Synthesis of Carbon Nanotubes using the Catalyst Metal Deposited Carbon Cathode Electrode in a DC Arc Discharge Process

ABSTRACTCarbon nanotubes (CNTs) were grown using a dc arc discharge process and relevant process parameters were investigated. Unlike the usual process in which a carbon anode is filled with metal catalyst powder, CNTs were prepared using a carbon cathode on which the metal catalyst had been deposited using an electroplating system. Various transition metals, Ni, Co and Ti, were used as a catalyst. The results show that multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWNTs) and single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWNTs) can both be synthesized using this technique. And yield and morphology of the prepared CNTs varied depending on the experimental condition and catalyst. While MWNTs were produced in the deposit and soot sample, SWNTs with diameters near 1nm were only detected in the soot collects. When Ni film was used as a catalyst, the yield of SWNTs was higher than in case of using Co or Ti film as a catalyst. From these results, the optimized preparing condition of CNTs and the properties of a good catalyst are discussed.