Monometallic and bimetallic M and M/Pd (M D Fe, Co, Ni) nanoparticles were prepared by pulsed Nd:YAG laser ablation of bulk M and Pd targets in acetone and transferred onto Si wafers to catalyze carbon nanotubes from decomposition of liquid petroleum gas via thermal chemical vapor deposition at 750C. Transmission electron microscopy and optical extinction study revealed that the prepared M and M/Pd nanoparticles have rather spherical shape and their aspect ratios are nearly one. In comparison to monometallic M catalysts by addition of Pd, the average sizes of produced bimetallic M/Pd catalysts increased. Carbon nanotubes’ characterization revealed that by addition of Pd to laser ablated M catalysts the average diameter, the yield, and quality of end product carbon nanotubes were increased. The average diameter of grown carbon nanotubes increases as: Ni < Ni/Pd < Co < Co/Pd < Fe < Fe/Pd and the quality of them increases as: Ni < Co < Fe < Ni/Pd < Fe/Pd < Co/Pd.
