Production of Carbon Nanofibers Using a CVD Method with Lithium Fluoride as a Supported Cobalt Catalyst

Abstract

Carbon nanofibers (CNFs) have been synthesized in high yield (>70%) by catalytic chemical vapor deposition (CCVD) on Co/LiF catalyst using acetylene as carbon source. A novel catalyst support (LiF) is reported for the first time as an alternative for large-scale production of carbon nanofibers while purification process of nanofibers is easier. In our experiment, the sealed furnace was heated at700∘Cfor 0.5 hour (the heating rate was10∘C/min) and then cooled to room temperature in the furnace naturally. Catalytic chemical vapor deposition is of interest for fundamental understanding and improvement of commercial synthesis of carbon nanofibers (CNFs). The obtained sample was sequentially washed with ethanol, dilutes acid, and distilled water to remove residual impurities, amorphous carbon materials, and remaining of catalyst, and then dried at110∘Cfor 24 hours. The combined physical characterization through several techniques, such as high-resolution transmission electron microscope (TEM), scanning electron microscope (SEM), thermogarvimetric analysis (TGA), and zeta-sizer and Raman spectroscopy, allows determining the geometric characteristic and the microstructure of individual carbon nanofibers. Catalytic chemical vapor deposition is of interest for fundamental understanding and improvement of commercial synthesis of carbon nanofibers (CNFs). As a matter of fact, the method of CCVD guarantees the production of CNFs for different applications.