Preparation of thin carbon nanotubes by catalytic pyrolysis on a support

The preparation of single-walled, double-walled and thin multi-walled nanotubes by hydrocarbon pyrolysis or carbon monoxide catalytic decomposition is considered. The versions of methods, reagents and catalysts are described systematically. The kinetics and mechanisms of processes are characterised. Trends in the development of methods for nanotube synthesis are shown: the increasing role of pyrolytic methods as compared with the graphite sublimation. The advantages of thin multi-walled nanotubes over single-walled ones are noted. Some unsolved problems are formulated.