Large-Scale Synthesis of Herringbone Carbon Nanofibers on Nonsupported Nickel Catalyst

Carbon nanofibers (CNFs) are synthesized at 450-650degC by a catalytic CVD method using nickel powders reduced from nickel carbonate as catalyst without other supporting materials, and acetylene as carbon source. It is found that the nickel powders present a considerable catalytic efficiency in the growth of the CNFs at the temperature between 500-550degC. TEM observation shows that a large portion of the product prepared at 550degC have a helix-like shape and some CNFs are filled with nickel nanowires. HRTEM observation further reveals that the CNFs are herringbone-like and well graphitized.