An easy single step route to synthesize open-ended carbon nanotubes

A simple and easy route is described for the synthesis of multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) by pyrolysis of cetyltrimethyl ammonium decatungstate and cetylpyridinium decatungstate in a specially made LET-LOK union cell. The advantages of using a single component precursor is that the organic moiety present in the precursor acts as the source for carbon and in-situ formed tungsten/tungsten carbide acts as a catalyst for the formation of carbon nanotubes. The method produces large quantities of carbon nanotubes with monodisperse, hollow, open ends. The MWCNTs were characterized systematically using SEM, TEM, HRTEM, Raman and XRD analysis. The MWCNTs have average diameters in the range of 15-35 nm and lengths of several hundreds of nanometers. (C) 2008 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.