ISSN print edition: 0366-6352 ISSN electronic edition: 1336-9075 Registr. No.: MK SR 9/7 Published monthly

Direct synthesis of carbon nanotube aerogel using floating catalyst chemical vapor deposition: effect of gas flow rate

Hayder B. Abdullah, Ramli Irmawati, Ismayadi Ismail, and Nor Azah Yusof

Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Catalysis Science and Technology Research Centre, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Serdang, Malaysia

E-mail: haybaiq@gmail.com

Received: 5 February 2020  Accepted: 15 April 2020

Abstract:

Carbon nanotube aerogel (CNT aerogel) was synthesized through the catalytic decomposition of toluene in the mixture of ferrocene and thiophene through floating catalyst chemical vapor deposition method. This study described the effect of (Ar and H₂) carrier gas flow rate on the quality and yield of CNT aerogel. Results indicated that the flow rate of the gas was an important parameter which helped in determining the yield and quality of the CNTs. The CNTs are multiwalled with its diameter decreased when the H₂ flow rate was increased. Scanning electron microscopy indicated the average diameter of ≈ 31, 30, 27, 26, 18, and 15 nm when the H₂ flow rate was increased from 400, 450, 500, 550, 600, 650 sccm, respectively. Furthermore, elemental analysis with energy dispersion spectrum for CNT aerogel produced at 600 sccm resulted in a 96.22 wt% carbons along with 3.78 wt% iron in the CNT aerogel sample. Results indicated that a hydrogen flow rate of 600 sccm produced high yield and good CNTs morphology.

Keywords: Carbon nanotube aerogel; Floating catalyst chemical vapor deposition; Gas flow rate

Full paper is available at www.springerlink.com.

DOI: 10.1007/s11696-020-01166-6

Chemical Papers 74 (10) 3359–3365 (2020)