(n, m) Distribution of Single-Walled Carbon Nanotubes Grown from a Non-Magnetic Palladium Catalyst
Xiaofan Qin,
Dong Li,
Lihu Feng,
Ying Wang,
Lili Zhang,
Liu Qian,
Wenyue Zhao,
Ningning Xu,
Xinyan Chi,
Shiying Wang,
Maoshuai He
Affiliations
Xiaofan Qin
College of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering, Qingdao University of Science and Technology, Qingdao 266042, China
Dong Li
College of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering, Qingdao University of Science and Technology, Qingdao 266042, China
Lihu Feng
College of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering, Qingdao University of Science and Technology, Qingdao 266042, China
Ying Wang
State Key Laboratory of Rare Earth Resource Utilization, Changchun Institute of Applied Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Changchun 130022, China
Lili Zhang
Shenyang National Laboratory for Materials Science, Advanced Carbon Division, Institute of Metal Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenyang 110016, China
Liu Qian
Center for Nanochemistry, Beijing Science and Engineering Center for Nanocarbons, Beijing National Laboratory for Molecular Sciences, College of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China
Wenyue Zhao
College of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering, Qingdao University of Science and Technology, Qingdao 266042, China
Ningning Xu
College of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering, Qingdao University of Science and Technology, Qingdao 266042, China
Xinyan Chi
College of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering, Qingdao University of Science and Technology, Qingdao 266042, China
Shiying Wang
College of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering, Qingdao University of Science and Technology, Qingdao 266042, China
Maoshuai He
College of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering, Qingdao University of Science and Technology, Qingdao 266042, China
Non-magnetic metal nanoparticles have been previously applied for the growth of single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWNTs). However, the activation mechanisms of non-magnetic metal catalysts and chirality distribution of synthesized SWNTs remain unclear. In this work, the activation mechanisms of non-magnetic metal palladium (Pd) particles supported by the magnesia carrier and thermodynamic stabilities of nucleated SWNTs with different (n, m) are evaluated by theoretical simulations. The electronic metal–support interaction between Pd and magnesia upshifts the d-band center of Pd, which promotes the chemisorption and dissociation of carbon precursor molecules on the Pd surface, making the activation of magnesia-supported non-magnetic Pd catalysts for SWNT growth possible. To verify the theoretical results, a porous magnesia supported Pd catalyst is developed for the bulk synthesis of SWNTs by chemical vapor deposition. The chirality distribution of Pd-grown SWNTs is understood by operating both Pd–SWNT interfacial formation energy and SWNT growth kinetics. This work not only helps to gain new insights into the activation of catalysts for growing SWNTs, but also extends the use of non-magnetic metal catalysts for bulk synthesis of SWNTs.
