Mechanistic considerations in the low-temperature growth of carbon nanofibers

CHED 325

Leontios A. Nezeritis and Bradley D. Fahlman, fahlm1b@cmich.edu. Department of Chemistry, Central Michigan University, Dow Science 357, Mount Pleasant, MI 48859
A contemporary method has given insight as to new ways to generate carbonaceous nanostructures using metallic nanoparticles to catalyze their growth. Whereas other methods require high temperatures and/or pressures; we have simplified the nature of carbonaceous growth through in situ generation of nanoparticles via laser ablation of metal targets above the reaction solution with a Nd:YAG laser (1064 nm). While using tetrachloroethylene as our carbon source for nanostructural growth, this method allows us to grow nanostructures beneath the melting point of the catalyst seed at room temperature. The resulting product is dechlorinated via interaction with potassium metal and an organic solvent. Herein, we will present HRTEM and FESEM images and in situ Raman spectra to understand the growth mechanism involved in the system. The conductivity and morphology will also be described for as-grown nanofibers as well as the ex situ annealed product.