Preparation and Characterization of Micro-coiled Carbon Fibers

Carbon microcoils (CMCs) were synthesized by the catalytic decomposition of acetylene using nickel sulfide particles as the catalyst which prepared by solvothermal method. The morphology and microstructure of the catalyst and micro-coiled carbon fibers were examined by SEM, FT-IR and XRD. The results showed that the catalyst was regular hexagonal phase nickel sulfide with its diameter of 1−2 μm and a smooth surface. CMCs have double helix structure, rectangular cross-section and identical coil diameter. The molecular structure of CMCs contained both unsaturated -C=C- and saturated -CH2- and -CH3 groups. The microstructure of CMCs was of poor degree of order with a low graphitization degree, containing a certain amount of amorphous carbon and crystal defects.