Facile Ni-silica nanocomposite synthesis method via alcogel electrolysis and their subsequent use for growth of multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) by conventional chemical vapor deposition (CVD) setup is reported. As the nature of nickel nanoparticles is magnetic so after synthesis amidst silica network these were magnetically separated. The catalysts were characterized by x-ray diffraction (XRD) and crystallite size was calculated from peak broadening of XRD data by using Sherr’s formula which was found to be 18-20 nm. Moreover, ethanol was employed as precursor of carbon along with Argon as inert carrier gas in CVD and three experiments on nickel nanocatalysts were performed in different temperature ranges i.e. 650 ^oC, 750 ^oC and 850 ^oC.

The grown multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) by CVD were characterized by XRD, Raman spectroscopy and Secondary Electron Microscopy (SEM). Raman spectroscopy confirms the high purity of grown MWCNTS on nickel nanocatalysts while from the SEM images the average diameter was found to be 25 nm and morphology of CNTs of grown carbon nanotubes on synthesized nickel nanoparticles were elucidated which shows nest type morphology characteristics of MWCNTs.

Key words: Alcogel Electrolysis, CVD, MWCNTS, Raman Spectroscopy.