Carbon nanotube and carbon nanofiber composite films grown on different graphite substrate for capacitive deionization

Abstract

Abstract The carbon nanotube and carbon nanofibre (CNT–CNF) composite films are synthesized on different graphite substrate by low-pressure and low-temperature chemical vapor deposition. Scanning electron microscopy measurement and N2 adsorption experiment show that CNT–CNF composite films have network structure with optimal pore size distribution, which is beneficial to capacitive deionization. Atomic force microscopy result indicates that there is a strong correlation between the surface roughness of graphite and their thickness. Furthermore, the electrosorptive performance in salt solutions by employing as-grown CNT–CNF composite film is studied and found that the properties of the graphite substrate play a vital role in electrosorptive performance of CNT–CNF composite films by influencing their network structures.