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Carbon nanofibers are cylindric nanostructures with graphene layers arranged as stacked cones, cups or plates. Carbon nanofibers with graphene layers wrapped into perfect cylinders are called carbon nanotubes.
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Synthesis
Carbon nanofibers are produced from the catalytic decomposition of hydrocarbon gases or carbon monoxide over selected metal particles that include iron, cobalt, nickel, and some of their alloys at temperatures over the range 400±1000°C. This process is termed Catalytic Chemical Vapor Deposition.
Applications
- Electron Field emission Sources
- Composite materials
- Scanning probe microscopy tips
- Carrier material for various catalysts in petrochemistry
- In vertically-aligned arrays, a platform for gene delivery. See Impalefection
History
Initial investigations in this area were motivated by the need to inhibit the growth of carbon nanofibers because of the persistent problems caused by accumulation of the material in a variety of commercial processes.
