Carbon Nanohorn Carried Material And Process For Producing Carbon Nanotube

Abstract

A carbon nanohorn carried material for producing a carbon nanotube by a chemical vapor deposition (CVD) method, including a catalytic metal or a compound thereof contained inside carbon nanohorns or supported on exterior walls of the carbon nanohorns is provided. A carbon nanotube is produced by a CVD reaction using the carbon nanohorn carried material. A novel technical means for producing a carbon nanotube which does not use any noncarbon type carrier, can easily collect and purify the carbon nanotube and can control the length of the carbon nanotube can be provided.

1 . A carbon nanohorn carried material used for producing a carbon nanotube by a chemical vapor deposition method, wherein a catalytic metal for producing a carbon nanotube or a compound thereof is contained inside carbon nanohorns or supported on exterior walls of the carbon nanohorns. 
     
     
         2 . The carbon nanohorn carried material as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the catalytic metal or the compound thereof is one or two or more members selected from the group consisting of Fe, Ni, Co, Pt, Mo, W, Mg, alloys of these metals and compounds of these metals. 
     
     
         3 . The carbon nanohorn carried material as recited in  claim 2 , wherein the compound is in the form of an inorganic acid salt, an organic acid salt, a complex or an organometallic compound. 
     
     
         4 . The carbon nanohorn carried material as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the carbon nanohorns have openings at least either side parts or top parts thereof. 
     
     
         5 . A carbon nanohorn carried material used for producing a carbon nanotube by a chemical vapor deposition method, wherein a catalytic metal for producing a carbon nanotube or a compound thereof and a carbon source compound for producing a carbon nanotube are contained inside carbon nanohorns or supported on exterior walls of the carbon nanohorns. 
     
     
         6 . The carbon nanohorn carried material as recited in  claim 5 , wherein the catalytic metal or the compound thereof is one or two or more members selected from the group consisting of Fe, Ni, Co, Pt, Mo, W, Mg, alloys of these metals and compounds of these metals. 
     
     
         7 . The carbon nanohorn carried material as recited in  claim 6 , wherein the compound is in the form of an inorganic acid salt, an organic acid salt, a complex or an organometallic compound. 
     
     
         8 . The carbon nanohorn carried material as recited in  claim 5 , wherein the carbon source compound is one or two or more members selected from the group consisting of fullerenes, phthalocyanines and carbon compounds with low vapor pressure. 
     
     
         9 . The carbon nanohorn carried material as recited in  claim 5 , wherein the carbon nanohorns have openings at least either side parts or top parts thereof. 
     
     
         10 . A process for producing a carbon nanotube, comprising subjecting a carbon source compound to a chemical vapor deposition reaction at a temperature in a range of 500 to 1,200° C. in an inert gas atmosphere or in a mixed gas atmosphere containing an inert gas and hydrogen in the presence of a carbon nanohorn carried material according to  claim 1 , so that the carbon nanotube is produced. 
     
     
         11 . A process for producing a carbon nanotube, comprising conducting a chemical vapor deposition reaction at a temperature in a range of 500 to 1,200° C. in an inert gas atmosphere or in a mixed gas atmosphere containing an inert gas and hydrogen in the presence of a carbon nanohorn carried material according to  claim 5 , so that the carbon nanotube is produced. 
     
     
         12 . The process for producing a carbon nanotube as recited in  claim 11 , wherein the chemical vapor deposition reaction is performed in the coexistence of a carbon source compound. 
     
     
         13 . The process for producing a carbon nanotube as recited in  claim 11 , wherein a form of the carbon source compound contained inside the carbon nanohorns or supported on exterior walls of the carbon nanohorns is varied to control the length of the carbon nanotube produced. 
     
     
         14 . The process for producing a carbon nanotube as recited in  claim 13 , wherein the form of the carbon source compound is a solid. 
     
     
         15 . The process for producing a carbon nanotube as recited in  claim 10 , wherein a kind of the catalytic metal or the compound thereof is varied to control the number of layers of the carbon nanotube produced.