Decomposition of ethylene on iron catalyst to obtain carbon nanotubes and the way of their purification

This paper describes preparation and characterization of carbon nanotubes obtaining using ethylene as a carbon source and iron as catalyst. Additionally purification procedure of carbon nanomaterials is presented. Purification was conducted in two stages. In the first one hydrogen or air was used in order to gasify unwanted carbon forms. In the second one - various reactants (nitric, hydrochloric or nitro-hydrochloric acids) were applied to remove metal particles. Obtained materials were characterized using X-ray diffraction, transmission electron microscopy and thermogravimetry.