The catalytic properties of the anodic aluminum oxide template in synthesis of carbon nanotubes

Both the catalytic property of the pore walls and the catalytic property of the top surface of AAO templates were closely investigated by pyrolizing acetylene at 650 degrees C for 5min and 1h respectively. The conclusion that the top surface of the AAO template with smaller diameters has a stronger catalytic property was drawn. And the effects of the reaction time, the reaction gas flow rate and the location where the AAO template was placed on the properties of AAO templates were discussed. Furthermore, this paper proposed that in the competitive between catalyzes of AAO templates and the transition metal catalysts, the transition metal catalysts will play a dominant role in the formation of CNTs by adjusting the quantity of the transition metal catalysts embedded in AAO templates.