Engineering solvothermal reactions to produce multi-walled carbon nanotubes

Choucair, M; Gong, B; Stride, JA

Engineering solvothermal reactions to produce multi-walled carbon nanotubes

Date

2012-06-01

Authors

Choucair, M

Gong, B

Stride, JA

Publisher

Springer

Abstract

Large multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) have been synthesized by the reaction of polytetrafluoroethylene and ethanol with metallic lithium under solvothermal conditions. Production of the MWCNTs depends on a series of coupled reactions that utilize the liberation of chemical energy in the thermo-dynamically closed system. Various characterization studies show tubes with diameters of 50-150 nm and micrometer lengths. The interwall spacing was found to be 0.39 +/- 0.04 nm. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy reveals the tubes are functionalized with up to 2.2 %/wt. fluorine and 6.0 %/wt. oxygen. © 2012, Springer.

Keywords

Carbon nanotubes, Polytetrafluoroethylene, Synthesis, Catalysis, Temperature range 0065-0273 K, Lasers

Citation

Choucair, M., Gong, B., & Stride, J. A. (2012). Engineering solvothermal reactions to produce multi-walled carbon nanotubes. Journal of Nanoparticle Research, 14(6), Article Number 901.