AVS 46th International Symposium
    Topical Conference on Emerging Opportunities and Issues in Nanotubes and Nanoelectronics Wednesday Sessions
       Session NT+NS+EM+MS-WeA

Paper NT+NS+EM+MS-WeA9
Electrochemical Deposition of Carbon Nanofilaments

Wednesday, October 27, 1999, 4:40 pm, Room 6C

Session: Nanotubes: Growth, Characterization and Properties I
Presenter: D. Zhou, University of Central Florida
Authors: E. Anoshkina, University of Central Florida
D. Zhou, University of Central Florida
L. Chow, University of Central Florida
V. Desai, University of Central Florida
Correspondent: Click to Email
Carbon nanofilaments are conventionally made from thermal catalytic chemical vapor deposition with carbonaceous gases as growth precursors. Based on their unique mechanical, thermal, and electrical properties, many applications of carbon nanofilaments have been realized in advanced technologies. We report here on a new method to prepare carbon nanofilaments, in which the nanofilaments have been made from organic solvents such as methanol through an electrochemical deposition process. Silicon wafers coated with Fe or Ni nanoparticles were employed as the electrodes, and the depositions were carried out at room temperature. It has been found that electrical field between the electrodes, conductivity of the solvent, and size of the catalysts play important roles in control of morphologies of the carbonaceous deposits. Furthermore, based on characterization of the nanofilaments using scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, and energy dispersive x-ray spectroscopy, the formation and growth mechanism of carbon nanofilaments from the electrochemical deposition has been discussed.