Growth mechanisms of carbon nanostructures with branched carbon nanofibers synthesized by plasma-enhanced chemical vapour deposition

Abstract

Y- and comb-type carbon nanotrees formed from branched carbon nanofibres grown by plasma-enhanced chemical vapour deposition were studied by transmission electron microscopy. Different growth mechanisms are proposed for the two types of nanotrees based on the observed and reconstituted dynamic transformations of the catalyst particles during synthesis. However, the splitting of large catalyst particles is required for both kinds of nanotrees, whatever the involved growth mechanism. The carbon nanotrees are well crystallized and the connections of the branches are continuous, which might be interesting for future applications in nanoelectronic devices and also composite materials.