It has long been believed that effective catalyst of single-walled carbon nanotube (SWCNT) synthesis should have catalysis of graphite formation. Metals typically used for the catalyst are iron, cobalt, nickel, and palladium, which are known to produce graphite on bulk crystal surface. Recently, however, gold, silver, and copper have been reported to produce SWCNTs when these metals become nanosized particles. Moreover, even silicon, germanium, and silicon carbide have been found to produce SWCNTs. These new findings lead to a question, what is the role of catalyst in SWCNT growth? We think the essential role of the catalyst is providing a template for formation of a cap composed of five- and six-membered rings. Carbon atoms precipitated or adsorbed on the nanoparticle surface may assemble themselves to form CNT caps. Once a cap is created, it acts as a nucleus and carbon atoms on the nanoparticle are incorporated into the edge of the cap, forming a graphite sheet cylinder as a nanotube. On a flat surface, even if a graphite sheet is formed, its surface is inert and graphite growth is terminated at one monolayer. Nanoscale curvature is necessary for nucleation of hemispherical carbon network.
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