Manufacturing and Processing of Carbon Nanotubes for H2 Storage

Abstract

In pursuit of manufacturing of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) in good yield at lower temperatures, a mixture of d-block elements such as Iron, Nickel, and Cobalt was expected to be advantageous because of the high yield and low temperature (at 220 - 250° C) synthesis. The physical state and aggregation of these catalyst particles in the reaction medium have been found to play an interesting role in obtaining CNTs at better yield. Carbon nanotubes have been successfully produced by an uncomplicated two-step solvothermal method between sodium and dichlorobenzene via Ni/Fe/Co as catalyst precursor.  The dependence of yield of CNTs on the catalyst system was determined via different ratios of catalysts and at various other experimental conditions such as different heating temperatures, different durations of heating. The X-ray powder diffraction study has indicated the graphite kind of the products. Microscopic characterizations (SEM and TEM) implied us the diameters of carbon nanotubes are 10-14 nm. Raman spectroscopy shows the presence of graphitized carbon in carbon nanotubes. Significant influence by the heating temperature and heating duration has been observed on the product yield.