Synthesis and properties of metal catalyst nanoparticles for carbon nanotubes growth

The dependence of carbon nanotube diameters upon the size of catalyst particles supported on various substrates was studied. Carbon nanotubes, synthesized by the chemical vapor deposition (CVD) method, need the existence of transition metal as a catalyst. We herewith report the morphologies and characteristics of nickel nanoparticles for the catalytic growth of nanotubes.