Growth of carbon nanotubes over Colombian natural limonite ore as catalysts

Abstract

Multi-walled  carbon  nanotubes  were  synthesized  using  methane  as  carbon  source  and  Colombian  natural  limonite  ore  as  catalyst  precursor.  Catalyst  was  evaluated  in  reduced  form  in  the  reaction  decomposition  of  methane at 700°C.  Multi  walled  carbon  nanotubes  were  characterized  by  X-ray  diffraction  (XRD),  transmission  electron  microscopy  (TEM),  scanning  electron  microscopy  (SEM)  and  thermogravimetric  analysis  (TGA).    Finally,  TEM micrographs showed that the MWCNTs have inner diameters ranging from 5 to 30 nm and outer diameters up to about 60 nm, and several microns in length.