Rümmeli et al. Nanoscale Research Letters 2011, 6:303 http://www.nanoscalereslett.com/content/6/1/303 Page 6 of 9 Figure 6 Proposed mechanism for the growth of single walled carbon nanotubes using thermally opened C60 caps according to Yu et al. [50]. Reprinted with permission. simple review alone, highlight the need for particular mechanisms for specific routes and conditions. It is gen- erally accepted that VLS description presented by Baker et al. [13] for carbon filament growth is also applicable to carbon nanotube growth, at least when metal catalyst particles are employed. However, even in this case, there are inconsistencies. As Reilly and Whitten [54] pointed out, the so called catalyst poisoning has yet to be demonstrated. As they highlight, often it is argued that a metal catalyst particle coated with amorphous carbon is considered poisoned, yet when it is coated with gra- phitic carbon (CNT growth) it is not considered poi- soned, viz. they are apparently still able to decompose hydrocarbons. This oddity is further illustrated by our studies in which the catalyst particles lie fully within the core of the CNT [42,43]. Moreover, the ability of oxides to form graphene [40,55] and CNT [26-38] with out any metal catalyst present further weakens the commonly accepted notion that the (metal) catalyst particle is required to decompose the hydrocarbon. Reilly and Whitten proposed a free radical condensate (FRC) forms which provides carbon species through a leaving group. The breaking of carbon-hydrogen or carbon-carbon bonds naturally form free-radicals in hydrocarbon pyro- lysis, with each fragment keeping one electron to form two radicals. The presence of a radical in a hydrocarbon molecule enables rapid rearrangement of carbon bonds. This same argument can explain the nucleation of CNT from unstable nano-humps which form on graphitic sur- faces which then eventually lead to the formation of multi-walled carbon nanotubes [52,53]. Thus, in the FRC model, the catalyst particle’s primary role is to serve as template for the formation of hemispherical caps at nucleation (as this reduces the high total surface energy of the particle caused by its high curvature). Thereafter, the catalyst may also provide an interface where carbon rearrangement may occur. However, this is not a prerequisite. Another surface, for example, an oxide support or simply unsaturated bonds at the edges of graphitic layers (e.g. open tube ends) can provide sui- table sites for growth. Various studies provide experi- mental evidence for carbon addition to the edges of free standing graphitic edges [56-58]. In this scenario, carbon species are able to diffuse along the surface of graphitic layers which are then adsorbed at the edges. This self- assembling mechanism can explain the growth of cloned SWNT [51], SWNT nucleated from opened fullerenes [49,50] and from MWNT grown on graphitic surfaces [52,53]. In the case of CNT growth from stable oxides (oxides which are not reduced in the reaction), either in nano-particulate form or as the support material, the VLS theory is not valid since carbon dissolution is unli- kely and probably occurs through surface diffusion pro- cesses. In the case of very small (<5 nm) non-metallic catalyst particles, the increased relative fraction of low- coordinated atoms could lead to surface saturation fol- lowed by carbon precipitation [7]. On the other hand, where the oxide can be reduced to a carbide, as for example, the carbo-thermal reduction of SiO2 nanoparti- cles [37,38], bulk carbon dissolution and precipitation in a manner similar to the VLS theory may be relevant (e.g. Figure 7). In short, there appear to be a variety of growth modes and investigating each is complicated. Ex situ studies by definition means the catalysts have had time to relax and re-crystallize before being subjected to any investi- gative method. Hence, ex situ studies are necessarily limited in that they cannot unequivocally testify to