Growth and Properties of Si-N-C-O Nanocones and Graphitic Nanofibers Synthesized Using Three-Nanometer Diameter Iron/Platinum Nanoparticle-Catalyst

Journal Article · Sat Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 2005 · Journal of Materials Research

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1557/JMR.2005.0106· OSTI ID:930697

Cui, Hongtao ^[1]; Yang, X. ^[2]; Meyer, III, Harry M ^[1]; Baylor, Larry R ^[1]; Simpson, Michael L ^[1]; Gardner, Walter L ^[1]; Lowndes, Douglas H ^[1]; An, L. ^[3]; Liu, J. ^[3]

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1. ORNL
2. University of Tennessee, Knoxville (UTK)
3. Duke University

Cone-shaped nanostructures of mixed composition (nanocones) and largely graphitic nanofibers were synthesized on silicon substrates using iron/platinum alloy nanoparticles as the catalyst in a direct-current plasma enhanced chemical vapor deposition reactor. The catalyst nanoparticles were monodisperse in size with an average diameter of 3 ({+-}1) nm. The nanocones were produced on laterally widely dispersed catalyst particles and were oriented perpendicular to the substrate surface with an amorphous internal structure. The nanocones were produced by gas phase mixing and deposition of plasma-sputtered silicon, nitrogen, carbon, and oxygen species on a central backbone nucleated by the Fe-Pt catalyst particle. Field emission measurements showed that a very high turn-on electric field was required for electron emission from the nanocones. In contrast, the graphitic nanofibers that were produced when silicon sputtering and redeposition were minimized had the 'stacked-cup' structure, and well-defined voids could be observed within nanofibers nucleated from larger catalyst particles.

• Research Organization: Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL)
• Sponsoring Organization: SC USDOE - Office of Science (SC)
• DOE Contract Number: AC05-00OR22725
• OSTI ID: 930697
• Journal Information: Journal of Materials Research, Journal Name: Journal of Materials Research Journal Issue: 4 Vol. 20; ISSN JMREEE; ISSN 0884-2914
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE
CATALYSTS
CHEMICAL VAPOR DEPOSITION
ELECTRIC FIELDS
ELECTRON EMISSION
FIELD EMISSION
SILICON