Patent ID: 8496904

Claim:
A method of making single walled carbon nanotubes comprising: providing a composition comprising a complex oxide having a formula A x-w F w B y-v G v O z wherein x/y≦2; z/y ≦4; 0≦w≦0.3x; 0≦v≦0.3y; A is a Group VIII element; F is an element that is different from A but has, in said composition, the same valence state as A; B is an element different from A and F, and is an element whose simple oxide, in which B is at the same valence state as in the complex oxide, is not reducible in the presence of hydrogen gas at a temperature less than about 900° C.; G is an element different from A, B and F, and is an element whose simple oxide, in which G is at the same valence state as in the complex oxide, is not reducible in the presence of hydrogen gas at a temperature less than about 900° C.; O is oxygen; reducing said composition to form an activated catalyst; contacting a carbonaceous gas with said activated catalyst under suitable conditions for growing single walled carbon nanotubes, said suitable conditions including pressure greater than about 1 atmosphere and less than about 10 atmospheres and temperature greater than about 400° C. and less than about 950° C.; and growing carbon nanotubes on said activated catalyst, said carbon nanotubes comprising single walled carbon nanotubes.