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Reversed micelles containing metallic ions are used as precursors of novel catalysts for the gas-phase synthesis of single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWNTs) and the results of screening study on catalytic behavior of Fe-Mo binary catalysts are reported. The results suggested that the catalytic ability is closely related to the strain of the crystal structure of Fe-Mo catalysts formed in the reaction and/or the phase transition caused by dissolution of the Mo atoms.

Crystal-to-crystal transformation from a 3D interpenetrated-type MOF {[Cu(BF(4))(2)(bpy)(H(2)O)(2)] (bpy)} (1) to a 2D square-grid-type [Cu(BF(4))(2)(bpy)(2)] (2) (bpy = 4,4'-bipyridine) was observed. It was derived from dehydration and confirmed by in situ FT-IR, TG, and elemental analysis. Moreover, we elucidate the novel expansion/shrinkage dynamic modulation of 2 triggered by clathrate formation with gas molecules.

Nanoparticle catalysts are essential and indispensable for all syntheses of single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs). We have prepared size-controlled Co, Co-Mo, and Fe-Mo nanoparticles by the reversed micelle method as the catalysts for the gas-phase pyrolytic synthesis of SWCNTs. From the investigation of the relation between the sizes of the nanoparticles and the alkyl-chain lengths of the cationic surfactants, dialkyldimethylammonium bromides, it has been found that the alkyl groups of the surfactants could play a role in controlling the sizes of the nanoparticles and that the alkyl chain of the surfactant should be preferably less than 10 carbon atoms at most to prepare smaller-size nanoparticles with a narrow size distribution. The reduction of the particle size increases the number of nanoparticles in the colloidal solution and leads to a higher yield of SWCNTs.