High yield preparation of tubular carbon nanofibers over supported Co–Mo catalysts Original Research Article

In the search for high yield synthesis of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) at lower temperatures, Co–Mo catalysts on carbon black were investigated with ethylene and CO as carbon sources in catalytic gas-phase pyrolysis in comparison to that on TiO2. The carbon black support was expected to be advantageous because of the feasibility of a CNT/carbon black composite possibly fabricated for several applications without removal of the support. Depending on the catalyst support, the catalytic activity toward CO and ethylene showed great differences. Co–Mo (9:1) catalysts on titania or carbon black provided a high carbon yield from CO and ethylene at the rather low temperatures of 450–530 °C.