Cu-Ni composition gradient for the catalytic synthesis of vertically aligned carbon nanofibers

Journal Article · Sat Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 2005 · Carbon

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.carbon.2005.02.027· OSTI ID:930723

Klein, Kate L ^[1]; Melechko, Anatoli Vasilievich ^[1]; Rack, Philip D ^[1]; Fowlkes, Jason Davidson ^[1]; Meyer, III, Harry M ^[1]; Simpson, Michael L ^[1]

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1. ORNL

The influence of catalyst alloy composition on the growth of vertically aligned carbon nanofibers was studied using Cu-Ni thin films. Metals were co-sputtered onto a substrate to form a thin film alloy with a wide compositional gradient, as determined by Auger analysis. Carbon nanofibers were then grown from the gradient catalyst film by plasma enhanced chemical vapor deposition. The alloy composition produced substantial differences in the resulting nanofibers, which varied from branched structures at 81%Ni-19%Cu to high aspect ratio nanocones at 80%Cu-20%Ni. Electron microscopy and spectroscopy techniques also revealed segregation of the initial alloy catalyst particles at certain concentrations.

• Research Organization: Oak Ridge National Lab. (ORNL), Oak Ridge, TN (United States). Center for Nanophase Materials Sciences (CNMS); Oak Ridge National Lab. (ORNL), Oak Ridge, TN (United States). High Temperature Materials Lab. (HTML)
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE Office of Science (SC)
• DOE Contract Number: DE-AC05-00OR22725
• OSTI ID: 930723
• Journal Information: Carbon, Vol. 43; ISSN 0008-6223
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE
ALLOYS
ASPECT RATIO
CARBON
CATALYSTS
CHEMICAL VAPOR DEPOSITION
ELECTRON MICROSCOPY
PLASMA
SEGREGATION
SPECTROSCOPY
SUBSTRATES
SYNTHESIS
THIN FILMS