Effects of ligand monolayers on catalytic nickel nanoparticles for synthesizing vertically aligned carbon nanofibers

Journal Article · Tue Mar 01 04:00:00 EST 2011 · ACS Applied Materials and Interfaces

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1021/am101290v· OSTI ID:1009491

Sarac, Mehmet ^[1]; Robert, Wilson ^[1]; Johnsont-Peck, Aaron ^[1]; Wang, Junwei ^[1]; Pearce, Ryan ^[1]; Klein, Kate ^[2]; Melechko, Anatoli ^[1]; Tracy, Joseph ^[1]

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1. North Carolina State University
2. National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST)

Vertically aligned carbon nanofibers (VACNFs) were synthesized using ligand-stabilized Ni nanoparticle (NP) catalysts and plasmaenhanced chemical vapor deposition. Using chemically synthesized Ni NPs enables facile preparation of VACNF arrays with monodisperse diameters below the size limit of thin film lithography. During pregrowth heating, the ligands catalytically convert into graphitic shells that prevent the catalyst NPs from agglomerating and coalescing, resulting in a monodisperse VACNF size distribution. In comparison, significant agglomeration occurs when the ligands are removed before VACNF growth, giving a broad distribution of VACNF sizes. The ligand shells are also promising for patterning the NPs and synthesizing complex VACNF arrays.

• Research Organization: Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL)
• Sponsoring Organization: SC USDOE - Office of Science (SC)
• DOE Contract Number: AC05-00OR22725
• OSTI ID: 1009491
• Journal Information: ACS Applied Materials and Interfaces, Journal Name: ACS Applied Materials and Interfaces
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE
AGGLOMERATION
CARBON
CATALYSTS
CHEMICAL VAPOR DEPOSITION
DISTRIBUTION
HEATING
NICKEL
THIN FILMS