Synthesis of Helical and Straight Carbon Nanofibers on Water Soluble Sodium Chloride Supported Catalyst

Abstract

Carbon nanofibers are synthesised via chemical vapour deposition of acetylene as carbon source through using water soluble catalysts. The new water soluble catalyst is prepared by supporting the copper on sodium chloride salt. Copper acetate and copper nitrate salts are used for preparing catalysts through impregnation method. The yield of carbon deposits using the catalyst prepared by copper acetate is almost twenty times higher than the one prepared by copper nitrate precursor. The X-ray diffraction pattern and field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM) images confirm the formation of CuO in the catalyst after calcination process. The growth time for carbon material is 15 min. The FESEM images show the growth of helical and straight carbon nanofibers on the catalysts with metal loading of 5 wt% at 600, 650 and 680 °C. The results showed that the morphology of the carbon deposited on the catalyst depends on both the amount of metal loaded on the catalyst and reaction temperature, while there is a significant interaction between them. However, fishbone carbon nanofibers with diameters less than 100 nm are deposited on the catalysts with metal loading of 1 wt% at 650 °C.