Carbon nanotube-supported cobalt catalysts were prepared by using three techniques including impregnation method (IP)

metal organic chemical vapor deposition method (MOCVD) and modified ethylene glycol method (EG). The size distribution of Co metal particles on Co/CNTs was studied with XRD and TEM. It was found that the Co/CNT catalysts prepared by MOCVD had high and homogeneous dispersion of spherical Co metal particles with a narrow particle-size distribution in the range of 5—10 nm centering around 7.5 nm

which is consistent with the calculated value 7.1 nm obtained by Scherrer formula from the XRD data. For the hydroformylation of 1-octene

the Co/CNT catalysts prepared by MOCVD were superior to those prepared by other methods and showed significantly higher activity and regioselectivity.The excellent catalytic performance could be attributed to homogeneous distribution and small size of cobalt metal particles.