METHOD OF CONTINUOUSLY SYNTHESIZING ORIENTED CARBON NANOTUBES AND APPARATUS FOR CONTINUOUSLY SYNTHESIZING SAME

摘要

A method and apparatus for continuously synthesizing oriented carbon nanotubes, with which oriented carbon nanotubes can be stably synthesized in large quantities. The method and apparatus for continuously synthesizing oriented carbon nanotubes comprise: a coating/drying step in which a catalyst liquid is applied and dried to form a catalyst layer on a substrate surface; a catalytic-substrate formation step in which the catalyst layer is heated to form a catalytic substrate having a catalyst particle layer on the substrate surface; a synthesis step in which a feed gas heated to a temperature equal to or higher than a synthesis temperature for the oriented carbon nanotubes is brought into contact with the surface of the catalytic substrate to synthesize oriented carbon nanotubes; and a recovery step in which the oriented carbon nanotubes are recovered. In the synthesis step, a carrier gas having a temperature equal to or higher than the synthesis temperature is supplied to around the feed gas which is in contact with the surface of the catalytic substrate or to stages preceding and succeeding the contact. Thus, oriented carbon nanotubes are continuously or intermittently synthesized.