A catalyst, catalyst precursor, and carbon nanotubes grown using the catalyst. The catalyst includes a support comprising alumina and a cobalt species on a surface of the support, wherein cobalt is the sole active catalyst species for carbon nanotube growth. The support surface is iron-free.

The present invention relates to a carbon nanotube dispersion comprising carbon nanotubes, a dispersant and a dispersion medium, wherein the dispersant comprises a first dispersant and a second dispersant in a weight ratio of 100:10 to 100:90, the first dispersant is a dispersant comprising a cyclic amide group, the second dispersant is a polymer compound comprising both a sulfonyl group and styrene, and a weight ratio of the carbon nanotubes and the dispersant is 100:50 to 100:500, thereby having low viscosity and a small particle size of particles contained therein.

High-surface area carbon nanotubes having targeted, or selective, oxidation levels and/or content on the interior and exterior of the tube walls are claimed. Such carbon nanotubes can have little to no inner tube surface oxidation, or differing amounts and/or types of oxidation between the tubes' inner and outer surfaces. Additionally, such high-surface area carbon nanotubes may have greater lengths and diameters, creating useful mechanical, electrical, and thermal properties.

The present invention relates to a carbon nanotube dispersion comprising carbon nanotubes, a dispersant and a dispersion medium, wherein the dispersant comprises a first dispersant and a second dispersant in a weight ratio of 100:10 to 100:90, the first dispersant is a dispersant comprising an N atom, the second dispersant is a compound comprising a sulfonic acid group, a hydroxyl group and an aromatic ring in a molecular structure, and a weight ratio of the carbon nanotubes and the dispersant is 100:50 to 100:500, thereby having low viscosity and a little change in viscosity over time.

The present invention relates to a carbon nanotube dispersion comprising carbon nanotubes, a dispersant and a dispersion medium, wherein the dispersant comprises a first dispersant and a second dispersant in a weight ratio of 100:10 to 100:115, the first dispersant is a dispersant comprising an N atom, the second dispersant comprises a compound comprising one aromatic ring and two or more hydroxyl groups in a molecular structure, and a weight ratio of the carbon nanotubes and the dispersant is 100:50 to 100:500, thereby having a small size of particles contained in the carbon nanotube dispersion.

A conductive material dispersion includes a carbon-based conductive material, a main dispersant, an auxiliary dispersant, and a dispersion medium, wherein the main dispersant is a nitrile-based copolymer and the auxiliary dispersant is a copolymer including an oxyalkylene unit and at least one selected from the group consisting of a styrene unit and an alkylene unit.

The inventive concept described herein relates to nanostructured carbons having improved characteristics, and method of preparing the same.

A carbon nanotube dispersion composition includes carbon nanotubes (A), a dispersant (B), and a solvent (C). A particle diameter D.sub.50 at a cumulative volume of 50% according to laser diffraction particle size distribution measurement is 0.3 to 7 m, and (1) and (2) below are satisfied. (1) The dispersant (B) is a polymer that has a weight average molecular weight of 5,000 or more and 360,000 or less and includes a carboxyl group-containing structural unit derived from at least one of (meth)acrylic acid and (meth)acrylate having a carboxyl group. (2) When the particle diameter D.sub.50 at a cumulative volume of 50% according to laser diffraction particle size distribution measurement of the carbon nanotube dispersion composition is X [m], and a pH is Y, X and Y satisfy (Formula a) and (Formula b) below: $\begin{array}{cc}Y-0.149X+4\text{.545}& \left(\mathrm{Formula}a\right)\end{array}$$\begin{array}{cc}Y-0.134X+5.140.& \left(\mathrm{Formula}b\right)\end{array}$

The purpose of the present invention is to provide a catalyst support with which it is possible to produce a high-quality fibrous carbon nanostructure. The purpose of the present invention is to provide a catalyst support used when producing a fibrous carbon nanostructure, the catalyst support comprising a carrier and a catalyst layer formed on the carrier, the catalyst layer including a metal-containing compound, and the difference YI in yellowness expressed by the formula being 3-20, where YI.sub.A is the yellowness of the carrier, and YI.sub.B is the yellowness of the catalyst support. YI=YI.sub.BYI.sub.A.