Patent ID: 7754183

Claim:
A method for forming carbon-based nanostructures comprising: providing to a reactor a liquid containing an elemental catalyst precursor, the liquid containing the elemental catalyst precursor being provided to the reactor as a liquid and at atmospheric condition, wherein the liquid contains the elemental catalyst precursor in a concentration of less than about 10 mg precursor per 10 milliliters of the liquid; providing to the reactor a liquid containing an elemental carbon-precursor, wherein the liquid containing the elemental carbon precursor is provided to the reactor in an unobstructed flow as a liquid and at atmospheric condition; vaporizing in the reactor the liquid containing the elemental catalyst precursor and the liquid containing the elemental carbon-precursor; decomposing the elemental catalyst precursor and the elemental carbon precursor, wherein upon the decomposition, elemental carbon and elemental catalyst are provided in the reactor; and forming a plurality of only isolated, single-walled carbon nanotubes according to a chemical vapor deposition process in the reactor.