Synthesis of Self-Supported Multi-Walled Carbon Nanotubes
J. Amadou, D. Begin, P. Nguyen, J.-P. Tessonnier, I. Janowska, T. Dintzer, E. Vanhaecke, M.-J. Ledoux and C. Pham-Huu
Laboratoire des Matériaux, Surfaces et Procédés pour la Catalyse (LMSPC),
ECPM-Université Louis Pasteur, 25, rue Becquerel, 67087 Strasbourg Cedex 02 (France)
E-mail: begind@ecpm.u-strasbg.fr
Pages: 549-552
Abstract
Carbon nanotubes are generally synthesized in a fine powder with a very high specific volume and a low apparent density, which render their manipulation extremely difficult and hazardous. Here we demonstrate a simple and reliable method for the direct synthesis of multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) supporting each other in a controlled macroscopic shape and size by applying an external constraint on the reactor during the synthesis. The MWCNTs are highly entangled allowing a natural compacting of the macroscopic pieces without fine formation, making subsequent handling easier. The present synthesis method addresses many critical problems encountered with the use of carbon nanotubes as a macroscopic building-block materials.
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