Carbon Nanofibers with Controlled Size and Morphology Synthesized with Ni-MgO Catalyst Treated by Mechanochemical Process

Carbon nanofibers (CNFs) with uniform diameter and controlled size were prepared from catalytic decomposition of <TEX>$ extrm{C}_{2} extrm{H}_{2}$</TEX> with Ni-MgO catalyst treated by mechanochemical (MC) process. The properties of Ni catalyst, such as size, distribution and morphology, can be governed by tuning grinding time in MC process. As a result, size and structure of CNFs can be tailored. The effect of grinding time to the as-grown CNFs was studied. CNFs with diameter from 10-70 nm were synthesized. CNFs with bundle formation sharing one tip and twisted CNFs were also synthesized with catalyst treated by MC process.