Mechanism growth of multiwalled carbon nanotubes on carbon black

• Published in: Diamond and related materials Vol. 17; no. 7; pp. 1506 - 1512
• Main Authors: Donnet, Jean Bapstiste, Oulanti, Hanae, Le Huu, Thang
• Format: Journal Article Conference Proceeding
• Language: English
• Published: Amsterdam Elsevier B.V 01.07.2008; Elsevier
• Subjects: Chemical synthesis methods; Combustion synthesis; Condensed matter: structure, mechanical and thermal properties; Cross-disciplinary physics: materials science; rheology; Exact sciences and technology; Materials science; Methods of deposition of films and coatings; film growth and epitaxy; Methods of nanofabrication; Nanoparticles; Nanoscale materials and structures: fabrication and characterization; Nanotubes; Physics; Structure and morphology; thickness; Surfaces and interfaces; thin films and whiskers (structure and nonelectronic properties); Theory and models of film growth; Thin film structure and morphology; Nanoparticles; Combustion synthesis; Nanotubes; Scanning electron microscopy; Carbon black; Phase transformations; Theoretical study; Carbon nanotubes; Raman spectroscopy; Acetylene; Transmission electron microscopy; Multiwalled nanotube; Temperature effects; Growth mechanism; Nanostructured materials; Nanomaterial synthesis
• ISSN: 0925-9635; 1879-0062
• DOI: 10.1016/j.diamond.2008.01.001

The growth of multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) on carbon black has been studied using a combustion oxygen/acetylene flame method. Different types of carbon black and reaction temperatures were evaluated for the growth of carbon nanotubes. The reaction was stopped after different short duration times of deposition in an attempt to observe the growth of carbon nanotubes. The samples were characterized by Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM) and by Raman Spectroscopy. We have observed the transformation of the carbon black surface into graphitic sheets and the start formation of tubes from these graphitic sheets. The length of the tubes is increased but the diameter is decreased with increased deposition times. Carbon nanotubes with 10–20 nm of diameter and a length of about 50 µm are obtained after 1 min deposition. The growth of multiwalled carbon nanotubes on carbon black is a phenomenon that can not be fully explained by carbon nanotubes growth models currently known. Our results lead us to propose a mechanism for the solid-state transformation of the carbon black particles surface into nanotubes in the oxygen/acetylene flame.