A sonochemical route to single-walled carbon nanotubes under ambient conditions.
A chemical route to single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) under ambient conditions has been developed. Silica powder was immersed in a mixture solution of ferrocene and p-xylene. After sonication at atmospheric pressure and room temperature, we obtained high-purity SWCNTs. Sonochemical effects may lead to producing high-purity SWCNTs. The process could be readily generalized to synthesize other forms of carbon-based materials, such as fullerenes, multiwalled nanotubes, carbon onions, and diamond, in liquid solution under ambient conditions.