Patent ID: 7947247

Claim:
A method for producing a multiplicity of single walled carbon nanotubes with a narrow diameter distribution from a source of carbon, said method comprising: (a) preparing an arrangement comprising a metal layer, at least one layer of fullerenes in contact with one side of said metal layer, and a solid carbon source in contact with the other side of said metal layer; (b) heating said arrangement to a temperature below where said fullerenes sublime, but at which said fullerenes and said carbon source dissolve into the metal layer; and (c) growing a multiplicity of single walled carbon nanotubes, wherein at least 80% of the single walled carbon nanotubes in said multiplicity have a diameter within ±5% of a single walled carbon nanotube diameter D present in said multiplicity, said diameter D being in the range between 0.6-2.2 nm.