Single-walled carbon nanotube catalysts and methods for preparing same

A method of making a catalyst for use in a process for the manufacture of single walled carbon nanotubes comprising the steps of:

• reacting a source of A, F, B, and G together at a temperature sufficiently low so as to form a complex oxide having a formula
• Ax−wFwBy−vGvOz
• wherein
• x/y≦2;
• z/y≦4;
• 0≦w≦0.3x;
• 0≦v≦0.3y;
• A is a Group VIII element;
• F is an element that is different from A but has, in said composition, the same valence state as A;
• B is an element different from A and F, and is an element whose simple oxide, in which B is at the same valence state as in the complex oxide, is not reducible in the presence of hydrogen gas at a temperature less than about 900° C.;
• G is an element different from A, B and F, and is an element whose simple oxide, in which G is at the same valence state as in the complex oxide, is not reducible in the presence of hydrogen gas at a temperature less than about 900° C.;
• o is oxygen;
• and
• activating the complex oxide by reducing said complex oxide at a temperature less than about 950° C.

A method of making a catalyst for use in a process for the manufacture of single walled carbon nanotubes comprising the step of reducing a complex oxide of formula Ax−wFwBy−vGvOz at a temperature less that 950° C., wherein

• x/y≦2;
• z/y≦4;
• 0≦w≦0.3x;
• 0≦v≦0.3y;
• A is a Group VIII element;
• F is an element that is different from A but has, in said composition, the same valence state as A;
• B is an element different from A and F, and is an element whose simple oxide, in which B is at the same valence state as in the complex oxide, is not reducible in the presence of hydrogen gas at a temperature less than about 900° C.;
• G is an element different from A, B and F, and is an element whose simple oxide, in which G is at the same valence state as in the complex oxide, is not reducible in the presence of hydrogen gas at a temperature less than about 900° C.;
• and
• O is oxygen.