Synthesis and frictional properties of array film of amorphous carbon nanofibers on anodic aluminum oxide

Abstract

Amorphous carbon nanofiber arrays were synthesized in porous anodic aluminum oxide templates by pyrolysis of acetylene with cobalt nanoparticles as catalyst at 640 °C. The carbon nanofibers have amorphous structures under high-resolution transmission electron microscopy and Raman spectroscopy examination. The aligned amorphous carbon nanofibers grown within the pores of the aluminum oxide membranes are uniform with lengths of about 2 μm and outer diameters of about 85 nm. The frictional properties of the array film of amorphous carbon nanofibers were investigated using an atomic force and friction force microscopy (AFM–FFM) and a ball-on-disk machine in air. The adhesion between the amorphous carbon nanofiber arrays and the anodic aluminum oxide membrane remained intact at relatively low loads. The AFM–FFM measurements indicated that the friction forces on the array film of amorphous carbon nanofibers were uniform. The array film had low friction coefficient and high wear resistance under the micro friction tests. The friction coefficient of the array film dry sliding against a corundum counterface was observed to be constant after an initial transient period and decreased with increasing the sliding velocity.