Parametric study on the influence of synthesis variables in the properties of nitrogen-doped carbon nanotubes

Abstract Nitrogen doped carbon nanotubes (N-CNT) were synthesized by a Modified Chemical Vapor Deposition method, using pyridine as carbon and nitrogen source, and ferrocene as catalytic agent for the nanotubes growth. The influence of synthesis parameters as the temperature, carrier gas flow rate, concentration of the reactants and preheating temperature over the morphology and physical properties of the N-CNT, were investigated by high-resolution scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy and X ray diffraction. The statistical analysis for the length of the N-CNT forest revealed that the synthesis temperature and carrier gas flow rate have significantly influenced on the physical properties of the material. The synthesis temperature not only affected the length of N-CNT forest, but also influenced the mass production, as well as, in diameter and the nitrogen content in the nanotubes. This is an important step towards the high yield production of N-CNT for applications in hydrogen storage, electrocatalysts for fuel cells and other electrochemical devices.