Self-assembled growth of single-walled carbon nanotubes by pyrolysis of metalorganic precursor

Carbon nanotubes with controllable diameters from ∼1 to 200 nm were synthesized by pyrolysis of iron phthalocyanine at ∼900 °C under argon gas flow. Diameters of nanotubes were controlled by varying the metal concentration, using the solid phase dilution of iron phthalocyanine with metal-free phthalocyanine to various degrees. Self-assembled single-walled carbon nanotubes were obtained by using iron phthalocyanine precursor diluted with metal-free phthalocyanine in 1:24 molar ratio.