Electrochemical synthesis of Fe oxide-based catalysts for the growth of nanocarbons

Abstract

A pulsed electrodeposition technique has been used for the synthesis of iron-based compounds as catalytic precursors for the growth of carbon nanofilaments via chemical vapor deposition (CVD). Iron-based nanoparticles were electrodeposited on a three-dimensional and electron conducting Al–Mg alloy substrate. A systematic control of the chemical composition, size and density of the iron-based nanoparticles was achieved by varying the nature of the electrolytic bath and the plating conditions. The results show that the as-prepared iron deposits synthesized at room temperature (FeCl₃·6H₂O) and at 50 °C (FeCl₂ and Fe(NO₃)₃·9H₂O) are catalytically active for the growth of different carbon nanostructures. The structure of the catalyst precursor as well as their chemical composition has a direct influence on the final carbon nanostructure. Nanocarbons produced by this route exhibit a more disordered microstructure and higher concentration of defects than other carbon nanostructures like nanotubes also produced by CVD. These filamentous nanocarbons could be of practical and fundamental interest as electrodes in batteries, supercapacitors, fuel cells and sensors.