Aligned single-walled carbon nanotube aggregate, bulk aligned single-walled carbon nanotube aggregate, powdered aligned single-walled carbon nanotube aggregate, and production method thereof

An aligned single-walled CNT aggregate having a specific surface area from 600 m2/g to 2600 m2/g and a weight density from 0.002 g/cm3 to 0.2 g/cm3, in which the alignment degree is defined by at least one of the following conditions.

• (1) in a case where X-rays are incident from a first direction parallel to the longitudinal direction of CNT and a second direction perpendicular to the first direction to measure the X-ray diffraction intensity (θ-2θ method), a θ angle and a reflection direction where the reflection intensity from the second direction is larger than the reflection intensity from the first direction are present, and a θ angle and a reflection direction where the reflection intensity from the first direction is larger than the reflection intensity from the second direction are present,
• (2) in a case where the X-ray refraction intensity is measured (Laue method) by 2-dimensional diffraction pattern images obtained by incidence of X-rays in the direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of CNT, a diffraction peak pattern showing the presence of the anisotropy appears, or
• (3) in a case where the Herman's orientation factor is greater than 0 and smaller than 1.

A powdered aligned single-walled CNT aggregate having a specific surface area from 600 m2/g to 2600 m2/g, and a weight density from 0.0005 g/cm3 to 0.16 g/cm3, in which the alignment degree is defined by a value of Herman's orientation factor that is greater than 0 and smaller than 1 when calculated based on the intensity profile from fast fourier transformation of scanning electron microscopic images or atomic force microscopic images.

A method for producing an aligned single-walled carbon nanotube aggregate of growing an aligned single-walled carbon nanotube aggregate on a base material having catalyst particle on the surface of the base material, the method including;

• a formation step of bringing a reducing gas into contact with the fine catalyst particles and heating at least one of the catalyst particles and the reducing gas, and
• a growth step of bringing a source gas containing carbon and not containing oxygen and a catalyst activating material containing oxygen into contact with the catalyst particles, and heating at least one of the catalyst particles, the source gas, or the catalyst activating material, thereby growing the aligned single-walled carbon nanotube aggregate.