High-yield production of graphitic nanofibers

The primary aim of the present paper is focused on the gram-scale (>1 g) synthesis and characterization of graphitic/carbon nanofibers (GNF). The GNFs were grown by spray pyrolysis of benzene. The optimum growth conditions for the high-yield GNFs are as follows: spray nozzle diameter (inner diameter) ∼0.52 mm, flow rate of benzene solution ∼5 ml/min with reaction temperature ∼750 °C and flow rate of hydrogen as carrier gas ∼1500 cc/min. The structural and microstructural characterizations have been evaluated by X-ray diffraction and transmission as well as by Scanning electron microscopy. The typical length and diameter are ∼60 μm and ∼250 nm, respectively. Most of the GNF samples exhibit coiled/helical-like fibers. The yield of GNF in the spray pyrolysis growth mode has been found to be of the order of gram-scale (1.45 g) per run. The details of the experimental parameters for optimum growth conditions have been studied and will be described.