(n,m) Selectivity of single-walled carbon nanotubes by different carbon precursors on Co-Mo catalysts

Single walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) were synthesized using four different carbon precursors including CO, C2H5OH, CH3OH, and C2H2 on Co-Mo catalysts. Semiconducting (n,m) abundance was evaluated by a method based on a single-particle tight-binding theoretical model taking into consideration the relative photoluminescence and absorption quantum efficiency for specific (n,m) tubes. (n,m) abundance determined in photoluminescence analysis was used to reconstruct the near-infrared Es11 absorption spectra. Carbon precursor pressure was found to be the key factor to the chirality control in this study. Narrowly (n,m) distributed SWCNTs can only be obtained under high-pressure CO or vacuumed C2H5OH and CH3OH. The majority of these nanotubes are predominately in the same higher chiral-angle region. The carbon precursor chemistry may also play an important role to obtain narrowly (n,m) distributed SWCNTs. (n,m) selectivity on Co-Mo catalysts shifts under different carbon precursors providing the route for (n,m) specific SWCNTs production.