CARBON NANOTUBES: A NEW CATALYST SUPPORT

The structure of carbon nanotubes (CNT) and their role as catalyst supports is reviewed. It is reported that: (1) the hydrophobic surface of CNT is very important to solvent selection in catalyst preparation; (2) the electrical capacity of CNT allows them to simultaneously act both as a support and a catalyst; (3) the ability of CNT to take up H 2 allows them be broadly applied in catalytic hydrogenation reactions; (4) the unique channel structure of CNT make them good reaction sites for regioselective catalysis.