Organometallic precursor route to carbon nanotubes*

Multi-walled as well as single-walled carbon nanotubes are conveniently prepared by the pyrolysis of organometallic precursors, such as metallocenes and phthalocyanines, in a reducing atmosphere. Pyrolysis of organometallics alone or in mixture with hydrocarbons also yields aligned nanotube bundles with useful field emission properties. By pyrolyzing organometallics in the presence of thiophene, Y-junction nanotubes are obtained in large quantities. The junction nanotubes have a good potential in nanoelectronics. Carbon nanotubes prepared from organometallics are useful for preparing nanowires and nanotubes of materials such as BN, GaN, SiC, and Si3N4.