Growth of carbon nanofibers on metal-catalyzed substrates by pulsed laser ablation of graphite

Carbon nanofibers (CNFs) were grown on metal-catalyzed Si substrates by pulsed laser ablation of graphite. Metal catalysts, Ni, NiCo, Pd and PdNi, were respectively deposited on Si substrates with a SiO₂ layer of 200-nm thickness by a dip coat method, and the substrates placed in a laser oven apparatus. By pulsed laser ablation of graphite for 2 hours, CNFs were grown at oven temperatures ≥ 1000°C. Diameters of grown CNFs were about 20-30 nm by scanning electron microscopy, and increased with oven temperature. The difference of CNF growth by the catalysts was shown. Pd-contained catalysts grew thicker CNFs than the other catalysts; while PdNi and NiCo yielded a higher number density of CNFs than the other catalysts. CNF diameter and length changed according to the substrate position from the target. We also discussed the growth mechanism of CNFs with this method.