High-resolution electron microscopic study of the structure of filamentary carbon on iron and nickel catalysts

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Direct high-resolution electron microscopy was employed to study the structure of filamentary carbon in carbon-containing iron, nickel and Ni/Al 2O 3 catalysts. Metal particles initiate the growth of filaments with hollow channels. The filaments are composed of coaxial (002) layers of graphite which are slightly out of parallel to the filament axis. Graphite is in contact with the metal surface through both (002) basal and side planes. In a series of cases there are thin graphite partitions within a hollow channel. Filamentary carbon formed on highly dispersed nickel particles (2–4 nm in size) on Ni/Al 2O 3 catalysts has a strongly disordered structure. The mechanism of the growth of filamentary carbon is discussed in detail.