Carbon nanotubes grown over Fe-Mo-Mg-O composite catalysts

High quality, high yield carbon nanotubes were synthesized on a composite catalyst using catalytic chemical vapor deposition. The composite catalysts Fe/MgO, Mo/MgO and (Fe, Mo)/ MgO, prepared via the solgel method using citric acid as fuel, were investigated for the production of CNTs. Only the (Fe, Mo)/MgO catalyst could support CNTs growth with high yield in this study. The different mole ratios between Fe, Mo, and Mg resulted in changes in product structure, diameter size, and yield. Decreasing the Fe concentration reduces the structural defects, and by increasing the Mo concentration, the yields of CNTs clearly increase.