High-quality single-walled carbon nanotubes synthesized by floating catalyst chemical vapor depostion

High-quality single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWNTs) are a key aspect in the emerging field nanotechnology. Although many approaches have been developed, the research on the synthesis of SWNTs is still needed. In this study, we report the synthesis of high-quality SWNTs by floating catalyst chemical vapor deposition, which employs ferrocene as the catalyst precursors. We obtained massive deposits at low temperature region. The deposits were characterized by scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, and visual laser Raman spectroscopy. The Raman spectrum obtained from raw deposits shows clear radial breathing mode at the range from 180cm(-1) to 300cm(-1) and high-intensity graphite mode at 1577.7cm(-1) with a shoulder at 1550.5cm(-1), and almost no detectable peak around at 1545cm(-1). which is induced by defects, is observed. These results indicate that the deposits are high-quality SWNTs.