title: Hierarchical chrysanthemum-flower-like carbon nanomaterials grown by chemical vapor deposition.
abstract: Novel hierarchical chrysanthemum-flower-like carbon nanomaterials (CFL-CNMs) were synthesized by thermal chemical vapor deposition based on acetylene decomposition. A scanning electron microscope and a transmission electron microscope were employed to observe the morphology and structure of the unconventional nanostructures. It is found that the CFL-CNMs look like a blooming chrysanthemum with a stem rather than a spherical flower. The carbon flower has an average diameter of 5 μm, an average stem diameter of 150 nm, branch diameters ranging from 20 to 70 nm, and branch lengths ranging from 0.5 to 3 μm. The morphologies of the CFL-CNMs are unlike any of those previously reported. Fishbone-like carbon nanofibers with a spindle-shaped catalyst locating at the tip can also be found. Furthermore, the catalyst split was proposed to elucidate the formation mechanism of CFL-CNMs. A large and glomerate catalyst particle at the tip of the carbon nanofiber splits into smaller catalyst particles which are catalytic-active points for branch formation, resulting in the formation of CFL-CNMs.
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Separation Membranes and Membrane Processes, School of Material Science and Engineering, Tianjin Polytechnic University, Tianjin 300387, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Er-Xiong
authors.initials: EX
authors.lastname: Ding
authors.forename: Hong-Zhang
authors.initials: HZ
authors.lastname: Geng
authors.forename: Jing
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Zhi-Jia
authors.initials: ZJ
authors.lastname: Luo
authors.forename: Guangfen
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Wen-Yi
authors.initials: WY
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Lin-Ge
authors.initials: LG
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Hai-Jie
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: Shi-Xun
authors.initials: SX
authors.lastname: Da
authors.forename: Jie
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Hua
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Jiang
authors.forename: Esko I
authors.initials: EI
authors.lastname: Kauppinen