Hundred-Nanometer-Size Crystalline Carbon Tubes from Poly(acrylonitrile) Pore-Filling Anodic Aluminum Oxide Templates via Solvent Annealing

Abstract

With a specific pore-filling process, a solvent-annealing process, graphite-like nanotubes can be fabricated from poly(acrylonitrile) (PAN) pore-filling anodic aluminum oxide templates. The molecular orientation of anisotropic PAN chains was induced by solvent annealing due to capillary filling so as to achieve appropriate molecular packing for carbonization. Consequently, hundred-nanometer-sized carbon nanotubes formed after carbonation, as demonstrated by field-emission scanning electron microscopy and transition electron microscopy observations. Importantly, the carbon nanotubes with a graphite-like structure and high crystallinity can be fabricated, as evidenced by selected area electron diffraction, high resolution transmission electron microscopy, and X-ray diffraction results. Notably, these carbon nanotubes cannot be fabricated using the conventional solution-wetting process. The formation of a core−shell cylinder texture was also demonstrated via multiple filling processes.