Direct synthesis of carbon nanomaterials via surface activation of bulk copper

• Published in: Carbon (New York) 2021-06, Vol.177, p.1-10
• Main Authors: Acauan, Luiz H., Kaiser, Ashley L., Wardle, Brian L.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: 3D carbon; Aerogels; Carbon; Carbon fiber reinforced plastics; Carbon nanofibers; Chemical synthesis; Chemical vapor deposition; Coordination compounds; Copper; Growth mechanism; Metallic substrate; Nanofibers; Nanomaterials; Polymer films; Substrates; Surface activation
• ISSN: 0008-6223; 1873-3891
• DOI: 10.1016/j.carbon.2021.02.045

A facile and novel surface activation approach using a strong-base solution enables the synthesis of carbon nanomaterials (CNMs) directly from bulk copper substrates via chemical vapor deposition. Amorphous carbon nanofibers (CNFs) were grown at temperatures as low as 250 °C, whereas at 600 °C the nanofibers were observed to be turbostratic, and at 700 °C turbostratic CNFs were synthesized together with a new aerogel-like 3D porous turbostratic CNM. A mechanistic model for the observed growth of CNMs from surface activated bulk copper is proposed. Our process is shown to yield conformal CNF growth on various complex-shaped copper substrates, such as meshes and wires, as well as copper-coated materials including carbon fibers and polymer films. [Display omitted] •Synthesis of carbon nanomaterials directly from the surface of a metallic substrate.•Catalytically active surface of bulk copper via basic aqueous solution treatment.•Catalyst nanoparticle formation via oxidation/roughening plus reduction steps.•Amorphous or turbostratic carbon nanofibers growth tunable by synthesis temperature.•Novel 3D “aerogel-like” turbostratic carbon by CVD, with sub-micron porosity.