Nearly monodispersed carbon coated iron nanoparticles for the catalytic growth of nanotubes/nanofibres

• Published in: Diamond and related materials Vol. 13; no. 2; pp. 362 - 370
• Main Authors: Dumitrache, F., Morjan, I., Alexandrescu, R., Morjan, R.E., Voicu, I., Sandu, I., Soare, I., Ploscaru, M., Fleaca, C., Ciupina, V., Prodan, G., Rand, B., Brydson, R., Woodword, A.
• Format: Journal Article Conference Proceeding
• Language: English
• Published: Amsterdam Elsevier B.V 01.02.2004; Elsevier
• Subjects: Chemical synthesis methods; Cross-disciplinary physics: materials science; rheology; Exact sciences and technology; Iron–carbon core-shell structures; Laser pyrolysis; Materials science; Methods of nanofabrication; Nanofibres; Nanopowders; Nanoscale materials and structures: fabrication and characterization; Nanotubes; Physics; Nanofibres; Laser pyrolysis; Iron–carbon core-shell structures; Nanotubes; Pyrolysis; Raman spectra; Iron-carbon core-shell structures; Inorganic compounds; Carbon nanotubes; Nanofiber; Iron; Experimental study; Precursor; Coated material; Fibers; Nanoparticles; Particle size distribution; Transmission electron microscopy; EEL spectroscopy; Nanocomposites; Laser radiation; Transition elements; Chemical composition; Nanostructured materials
• ISSN: 0925-9635; 1879-0062
• DOI: 10.1016/j.diamond.2003.10.022

We present the single step preparation of nano-iron cores embedded in carbon layers and their preliminary application to the growth of carbon nanotubes. CO 2 laser pyrolysis of volatile iron and carbon precursors in a gas flow reactor was used in order to obtain the Fe–C nanocomposites. The structure and composition of the obtained nanopowders were analysed by transmission electron microscopy, high-resolution transmission electron microscopy, electron energy loss spectroscopy and Raman spectroscopy. The results indicate that the synthesized carbon embedded iron nanoparticles (∼3–7 nm mean diameter) present sharp particle distributions. The degree of agglomeration and the number of surrounding carbon layers depend on the relative concentration of reactive donors. Silicon substrates seeded with a dilution of Fe–C nanocomposites were further used to catalyze nanotubes/nanofibres growth by the laser-induced CVD method. A deeper insight in the inception and growth mechanism of these structures is needed in order to achieve different levels of encapsulation and subsequent nanotube growth.