Fullerene Molecule as Catalyst of Synthesis of Carbon Nanotubes

Abstract

Advantage was taken of new materials produced by original (developed by authors) technology with the use of non-metallic catalysts. It is common knowledge that metals of iron group (Fe, Ni, Co and their mixtures) are most often used as an catalysts for synthesis of carbon nanostructures. After synthesis the catalyst which content amounts to as much as 30 wt.% is dissolved in mineral acids by boiling. The carbon nanostructures prepared by pyrolysis of hydrocarbons on the non-metal catalysts don’t require the harmful and power-intensive stage of chemical treatment and they contain on their surface the molecules of inorganic acids in adsorbed form and another associated impurities. In the present work the carbon fibres were impregnated by fullerene solution in toluene that catalyzed the process of carbon nanotubes growth at the fibres surface.