Abstract: A method of production of carbon nanoparticles comprises the steps of: providing on substrate particles a transition metal compound which is decomposable to yield the transition metal under conditions permitting carbon nanoparticle formation, contacting a gaseous carbon source with the substrate particles, before, during or after said contacting step, decomposing the transition metal compound to yield the transition metal on the substrate particles, forming carbon nanoparticles by decomposition of the carbon source catalysed by the transition metal, and collecting the carbon nanoparticles formed.

Abstract: A method is described for the continuous production of nanotubes comprising forming a plasma jet, introducing into the plasma jet a metal catalyst or metal catalyst precursor to produce vaporised catalyst metal, directing one or more streams of quenching gas into the plasma to quench the plasma and passing the resulting gaseous mixture through a furnace, one or more nanotube forming materials being added whereby nanotubes are formed therefrom under the influcence of the metal catalyst and are grown to a desired length during passage through the furnace, and collecting the nanotubes so formed.

Abstract: A method of producing carbon nanoparticles comprises the steps of: passing a gaseous carbon source through a heated reactor; and adding catalyst supported on substrate particles or thermally decomposable catalyst precursor supported on substrate particles to the heated reactor to form a fluidised bed; such that carbon nanoparticles are formed in the heated reactor.