High-efficiency preparation of carbon nanotube catalysts via mono/bi-microemulsion nanoreactor

The role of catalysts in carbon nanotubes preparation is critical, and investigation into catalyst preparation methods is a key area of research in the field. In this study, Fe-Mo/Al2O3 catalysts were prepared using a microemulsion nanoreactor, and the effects of mono-microemulsion and bi-microemulsion on properties of catalysts and CNTs were investigated. The catalysts and CNTs were characterized by SEM, TEM, BET, XPS, H2-TPR, and Raman spectroscopy. The results showed that the catalyst prepared by bi-microemulsion had stronger performance than the mono-microemulsion, and the hydrated diameter of microemulsion was about 22 nm when the mass fraction of the aqueous phase was 10.22%. The size of the catalyst was around 50 nm, and the tube diameter of the CNTs ranged from 6.5 to 13 nm, with a low degree of defects. Reverse microemulsion is a promising method for the preparation of nanomaterials, and this research offers a valuable reference for the preparation of carbon nanotube catalysts by means of bi-microemulsion.