Atomic-scale imaging of carbon nanofibre growth

Stig Helveg (), Carlos López-Cartes, Jens Sehested, Poul L. Hansen, Bjerne S. Clausen, Jens R. Rostrup-Nielsen, Frank Abild-Pedersen and Jens K. Nørskov
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Stig Helveg: Department of Physics, Technical University of Denmark
Carlos López-Cartes: Department of Physics, Technical University of Denmark
Jens Sehested: Department of Physics, Technical University of Denmark
Poul L. Hansen: Department of Physics, Technical University of Denmark
Bjerne S. Clausen: Department of Physics, Technical University of Denmark
Jens R. Rostrup-Nielsen: Department of Physics, Technical University of Denmark
Frank Abild-Pedersen: Technical University of Denmark
Jens K. Nørskov: Technical University of Denmark

Nature, 2004, vol. 427, issue 6973, 426-429

Abstract: Abstract The synthesis of carbon nanotubes with predefined structure and functionality plays a central role in the field of nanotechnology1,2, whereas the inhibition of carbon growth is needed to prevent a breakdown of industrial catalysts for hydrogen and synthesis gas production3. The growth of carbon nanotubes and nanofibres has therefore been widely studied4,5,6,7,8,9,10. Recent advances in in situ techniques now open up the possibility of studying gas–solid interactions at the atomic level11,12. Here we present time-resolved, high-resolution in situ transmission electron microscope observations of the formation of carbon nanofibres from methane decomposition over supported nickel nanocrystals. Carbon nanofibres are observed to develop through a reaction-induced reshaping of the nickel nanocrystals. Specifically, the nucleation and growth of graphene layers are found to be assisted by a dynamic formation and restructuring of mono-atomic step edges at the nickel surface. Density-functional theory calculations indicate that the observations are consistent with a growth mechanism involving surface diffusion of carbon and nickel atoms. The finding that metallic step edges act as spatiotemporal dynamic growth sites may be important for understanding other types of catalytic reactions and nanomaterial syntheses.

Date: 2004
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DOI: 10.1038/nature02278

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