Catalytic growth of multi-wall carbon nanotubes on carbon cloth using powdery ferrous sulfate heptahydrate as catalyst precursor

Multi-wall carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) were synthesized on carbon fiber cloth by chemical vapor deposition using natural gas as the carbon source and FeSO4·7H2O powder as the catalyst precursor. Scanning and transmission electron microscopy and Raman spectroscopy were used to characterize the product. Small catalyst particles were observed on the top of the tubes. The MWCNTs were dispersed uniformly and aligned perpendicular to the cloth. They had a high crystallinity, and few impurities and defects. The density and structure of the MWCNTs on the cloth can be controlled by deposition temperature and time.