Synthesis and growth mechanism of CNTs/FeNP hybrid structures

Through in situ depositing of iron nano particles (FeNP) coating with carbon on the surface of carbon nanotubes (CNTs), different morphologies of CNTs/FeNP hybrid structures were prepared by catalytic chemical vapor deposition method. The micro morphology and structure of hybrid structures were characterized using scanning electronic microscope and transmission electronic microscope. Results showed that iron nano particles were connected with CNTs through graphite sheet structures, with good interconnections. At low thiophene proportion, the diameter of CNTs decreased, and the amount of CNTs increased. When the thiophene proportion was higher than 0.5%, CNTs/FeNP hybrid structures were achieved. The components and relative proportions of hybrid structures were analyzed by X-ray energy dispersive spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction, it turns out that iron existed mainly on the form of α-Fe, γ-Fe and Fe₃C in the system; iron proportion increased with the increasing thiophene proportion. By studying the formation of iron nano particles and its deposition on the CNT surface, the formation mechanism of CNTs/FeNP hybrid structures was illustrated.