CVD Synthesis of Carbon Nanotubes Using Mesoporous Silica Incorporated with Metal Ion

Abstract

Owing to their new functional properties as electrode materials and hydrogen storage materials, carbon nanotubes attract rapidly growing attention. Concerning the preparation of the carbon nanotubes, one of the most important problems is how to prepare nanotubes with desired form. Another significant problem is how to obtain such nanotubes on a large scale. In order to overcome the above mentioned problems, we have tried to synthesize carbon nanotubes using chemically modified mesoporous silicas as structure directing agent. Mesoporous silicas with mesopores of 2-30 nm were synthesized by sol-gel method. Metal ions were incorporated into the pore structure of mesoporous silica with ion-exchange technique. Carbon nanotubes can be grown on the mesoporous silica incorporated with metal ion by pyrolysis of hydrocarbon gas.