High-quality single-walled carbon nanotubes synthesized from asphalt and petroleum coke

Abstract

Single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWNTs) have been synthesized by an arc discharge method using asphalt and petroleum coke as carbon source. The morphology and structure of SWNT products synthesized with Fe as catalyst were characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM), Raman spectroscopy and energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX). Our findings indicate that asphalt and petroleum coke are suitable industrial carbon source for the growth of single-walled carbon nanotubes.