Synthesis of beaded and entwined carbon nanofibers in Ni:Al alloy catalyst

J Nanosci Nanotechnol. 2007 Mar;7(3):1034-8. doi: 10.1166/jnn.2007.221.

Abstract

This paper reports two new types of carbon nanofibers synthesis by thermal decomposition of n-hexane in presence of Ni-Al alloy in hydrogen atmosphere at 1100 degrees C. One type is "beaded fibers" in which spherical carbon beads (approximately 1 microm) are regularly grown from outer surface of fibers (approximately 0.3 microm). The other new microstructure is "entwined fibers" in which multiple nanofibers of diameter approximately 100 nm grow self-entwined like a braid of hair. Both bead-fiber bonding (in beaded fibers) and fiber-fiber interaction (in entwined fibers) are strong to be detached/unfolded by 30-min ultrasonication.

MeSH terms

  • Alloys
  • Aluminum
  • Carbon / chemistry*
  • Catalysis
  • Hot Temperature
  • Microscopy, Electron
  • Microscopy, Electron, Scanning
  • Nanostructures / chemistry*
  • Nanostructures / ultrastructure*
  • Nanotechnology
  • Nickel
  • Powder Diffraction

Substances

  • Alloys
  • Carbon
  • Nickel
  • Aluminum