Single-wall carbon nanotube formation by laser ablation using double-targets of carbon and metal

During laser ablation to form single-wall carbon nanotubes, the composition at the surface of a target composed of C, Ni and Co became metal-rich and the yield of single-wall carbon nanotubes decreased. This problem was solved by applying double-target laser ablation where separate carbon and metal-alloy targets were simultaneously irradiated by the laser light.