Thiophene-based Ni-coordination polymer as a catalyst precursor and promoter for multi-walled carbon nanotubes synthesis in CVD

Abstract Enormous technological promise of multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) can only be harnessed with the premise of controllable synthesis of MWCNTs, where catalyst precursor and promoter play vital roles. Herein, we have systematically investigated the effects of pre-treatment of catalyst precursor and promoter and growth conditions of MWCNTs. The highest yield of MWCNTs from thiophene-based Ni-coordination polymer is 10 times as that of our previous work. The results indicate that catalyst precursor and promoter can efficiently tune the morphology, yield and quality of MWCNTs.