Melamine as a single source for fabrication of mesoscopic 3D composites of N-doped carbon nanotubes on graphene

• Published in: RSC advances Vol. 8; no. 22; pp. 12157 - 12164
• Main Authors: Yan, Xiao-Ling, Li, Hua-Fei, Wang, Chen, Jiang, Bang-Bang, Hu, Hai-Yan, Xie, Ning, Wu, Marvin H, Vinodgopal, K, Dai, Gui-Ping
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Royal Society of Chemistry 01.01.2018; The Royal Society of Chemistry
• Subjects: Carbon; Carbon nanotubes; Chemical vapor deposition; Chemistry; Electron microscopy; Energy storage; Graphene; Graphitization; Manganese; Melamine; Microscopy; Nanotubes; Nickel; Nitrogen; Pyrolysis; Raman spectra; Spectrum analysis; Substrates; Three dimensional composites; X-ray diffraction
• DOI: 10.1039/c8ra01577e
• ISSN: 2046-2069

Integration of two-dimensional graphene and one-dimensional carbon nanotubes (CNTs) to create potentially useful 3D mesoscopic carbon structures with enhanced properties relative to the original materials is very desirable. Here, we report a novel and simple route using chemical vapor deposition (CVD) methods to fabricate bead-like nitrogen-doped CNT/graphene composites (NCNT/G) via a simple pyrolysis of the N-rich melamine in the presence of graphene oxide (GO) as a substrate using a Mn-Ni-Co ternary catalyst. We have characterized these structures by field-emission scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, Raman spectra, isothermal analyses, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. The three dimensional NCNT/G hybrids have unique network structures, moderate graphitization, high specific surface area, good mesoporosity, and N doping, which makes them promising materials for applications in energy storage and conversion. Integration of two-dimensional graphene and one-dimensional carbon nanotubes (CNTs) to create potentially useful 3D mesoscopic carbon structures with enhanced properties relative to the original materials is very desirable.