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Growth and properties of Si–N–C–O nanocones and graphitic nanofibers synthesized using three-nanometer diameter iron/platinum nanoparticle-catalyst

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  01 April 2005

H. Cui*
Affiliation:
Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, Tennessee 37831
X. Yang
Affiliation:
Department of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Tennessee 37996
H.M. Meyer
Affiliation:
Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, Tennessee 37831
L.R. Baylor
Affiliation:
Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, Tennessee 37831
M.L. Simpson
Affiliation:
Department of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Tennessee 37996; and Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, Tennessee 37831
W.L. Gardner
Affiliation:
Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, Tennessee 37831
D.H. Lowndes
Affiliation:
Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, Tennessee 37831
L. An
Affiliation:
Department of Chemistry, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina 27708
J. Liu
Affiliation:
Department of Chemistry, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina 27708
*
a)Address all correspondence to this author. e-mail: cui@ornl.gov
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Abstract

Cone-shaped nanostructures of mixed composition (nanocones) and largely graphitic nanofibers were synthesized on silicon substrates using iron/platinum alloy nanoparticles as the catalyst in a direct-current plasma enhanced chemical vapor deposition reactor. The catalyst nanoparticles were monodisperse in size with an average diameter of 3 (±1) nm. The nanocones were produced on laterally widely dispersed catalyst particles and were oriented perpendicular to the substrate surface with an amorphous internal structure. The nanocones were produced by gas phase mixing and deposition of plasma-sputtered silicon, nitrogen, carbon, and oxygen species on a central backbone nucleated by the Fe–Pt catalyst particle. Field emission measurements showed that a very high turn-on electric field was required for electron emission from the nanocones. In contrast, the graphitic nanofibers that were produced when silicon sputtering and redeposition were minimized had the “stacked-cup” structure, and well-defined voids could be observed within nanofibers nucleated from larger catalyst particles.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © Materials Research Society 2005

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