Controlled synthesis of carbon nanocables and branched-nanobelts

Two kinds of new morphology of carbon nanomaterials, carbon nanocables and branched-nanobelts can been produced by pyrolyzing ethylene glycol monvethyl ether (CH₃CH₂OCH₂CH₂OH) with Fe as catalyst at 650-700 °C. The carbon nanocables are made of two parts, the interior carbon nanowires encapsulated in the outer carbon nanotubes. For the nanocables, HRTEM images reveal that the crystallinity of the outer carbon nanotubes is better than that of the interior carbon nanowires. HRTEM image shows that the junctions of the branched-nanobelts are composed of graphitic layers that are almost perpendicular to the respective axis of the branched-nanobelts. The catalysts, temperature and reaction time were investigated. The possible growth mechanism for the as-synthesized carbon structures is discussed.