IR and NMR spectroscopic characterization of graphitization process occurring in the pores of mesoporous silicates in formation of carbon nanotubes

Synthesis of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) from the template molecules of the Si-MCM-41 and Al,Si-MCM-41 mesoporous silicates were investigated. The generation of nanotubes was carried out by graphitization, i.e. applying high temperature treatment of the MCM-41 samples in inert gas atmosphere. The as-synthesized and graphitized samples were characterized by several spectroscopic and physico-chemical methods such as IR and MAS NMR spectroscopy, XRD, TEM, and BET. q 2005 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.