Morphology Control of Vapor Grown Carbon Nanofibers

The influences of catalyst precursor, promoter and benzene to hydrogen mole ratio on the morphology of carbon filaments and selective preparation of carbon filaments by the float- ing catalyst method were reported. By controlling the contents of ferrocene (catalyst precursor), thiophene (promoter) and benzene to hydrogen mole ratio, straight carbon nanotubes (S-CNTs), curving carbon nanotubes (C-CNTs), beaded carbon nanofibers (B-CNF) and carbon nanofibers (CNF) were synthesized. Effects of different parameters, especially, critical role of catalyst, pro- moter and benzene to hydrogen mole ratio were discussed. From TEM, Raman spectroscopy, HRTEM and TG-DSC analysis, it can be concluded that controllable growth of carbon filaments with different morphologies can be realized in the floating catalyst system by simply coatrolling such parameters as catalyst, promoter and benzene to hydrogen mole ratio.