Preparation, morphology and microstructure of segmented graphite nanofibers

Abstract

Vapor-grown of segmented graphite nanofibers were prepared by pyrolysis of acetylene at 600–800°C using a foam Ni catalyst. Through transmission electron microscopy observation, it was found that this kind of nanofiber looks like a line of lens-like segments with nearly equal separation, which consist of well-ordered graphite platelets intermittently stacked perpendicularly to the filament axis. It was suggested that the catalyst particles adopting a thin slice shape and the flow rate of acetylene are critical for forming segmented graphite nanofibers. The formation mechanism of segmented graphite nanofibers has also been discussed.