Helical multiwalled carbon nanotubes (h-MWCNTs) synthesized by catalytic chemical vapor deposition

Abstract Helical multiwalled carbon nanotubes ( h -MWCNTs) were synthesized by a catalytic chemical vapor deposition method using acetylene as a carbon source and FeMo/MgO catalyst as a template, which was prepared by a combustion method using citric acid as a foaming and combustion additive. The XRD pattern revealed that the catalyst was crystalline. Furthermore, the synthesized carbon materials were characterized by SEM, TEM, and Raman spectroscopy, where SEM and TEM images showed the formation of thin h -MWCNTs and the Raman spectrum confirmed the crystalline characteristics of the CNTs. This is an easy and simple method to synthesize h -MWCNTs with diameter of 20–30 nm.