A gas-phase method for producing high yields of single-wall carbon nanotubes
with
high purity and homogeneity is disclosed. The method involves using preformed metal
catalyst clusters to initiate and grow single-wall carbon nanotubes. In one embodiment,
multi-metallic catalyst precursors are used to facilitate the metal catalyst cluster
formation. The catalyst clusters are grown to the desired size before mixing with
a carbon-containing feedstock at a temperature and pressure sufficient to initiate
and form single-wall carbon nanotubes. The method also involves using small fullerenes
and preformed sections of single-wall carbon nanotubes, either derivatized or underivatized,
as seed molecules for expediting the growth and increasing the yield of single-wall
carbon nanotubes. The multi-metallic catalyst precursors and the seed molecules
may be introduced into the reactor by means of a supercritical fluid. In addition
the seed molecules may be introduced into the reactor via an aerosol or smoke.
