Growth of carbon nanofibers on carbon fabric with Ni nanocatalyst prepared using pulse electrodeposition

The pulse electrodeposition (PED) technique was utilized to deposit nanosized (<= 10 nm) Ni catalysts on carbon fabric (CF). Via an in situ potential profile, the PED technique can control the Ni catalyst loading, which is an important parameter for the growth of carbon nanofibers (CNFs) on CF. The preparation of CNF-coated CF (carpet-like CF) was carried out in a thermal chemical vapor deposition system with an optimum loading of Ni catalysts deposited in the PED pulse range from 20 to 320 cycles. CNFs grown at 813 K using different pulse cycles had a narrow diameter distribution, around 15 +/- 5 nm to 29 +/- 7 nm; they have a hydrophobic surface, like lotus leaves. Transmission electron microscopy images confirmed the graphene structural transformation of CNFs with the growth temperature. Solid wire CNFs were initially grown at 813 K with graphene edges exposed on the external surface. At elevated growth temperatures ( 1073 and 1173 K), bamboo-like CNFs were obtained, with herringbone structures and intersectional hollow cores.