Formation of Al2O3-graphite core shells versus growth time by using thermal chemical vapor deposition

Abstract

Al2O3-graphite core shells were synthesized on Al2O3 nanopowders by using a thermal chemical vapor deposition technique with C2H2, H2, and Ar gases, and the effects of the growth time on the formation of the core shells were investigated. The crystalline quality of the Al2O3-graphite core shells increased with increasing growth time. The C-Al chemical bonding at 283 eV was confirmed by using X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and thus the thin Al layers on Al2O3 cores, which formed through a reduction process, played an important role in the fabrication of the graphene shells. The characteristics of an electrode composed of Al2O3-graphite core-shell ink on a glass substrate were investigated. This study demonstrated a very effective and simple method for the synthesis of Al2O3-graphite core shells, and the technique developed in this study may be applicable to the synthesis of various metal-graphite core shells.