Formation of Single-Walled Carbon Nanotube Buckybooks, Graphene Nanosheets and Metal Decorated Graphene

Abstract

The various carbon nanostructures e.g. single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) web, graphene nanosheets and metal nanoparticle decorated graphene sheets have been synthesized in large quantity by electrical arc discharge method under an argon atmosphere. The as-synthesized nanostructures were characterized by different characterization techniques such as XRD, SEM, TEM, Energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, Raman and FTIR spectroscopy. The SWCNT webs of length ~6 cm abundantly containing aligned SWCNTs have diameter of about 1.8 nm and form buckybook like structure. Few layer graphene (FLG) sheets were prepared by electric arc discharge of high purity graphite electrodes in a varying argon gas atmosphere (250-500T). The largest areal extent of graphene (with lowest number of layer i.e. four) has been found at 350T argon pressure. A one step method is also reported for the decoration of these graphene nanosheets with iron and nickel nanoparticles through arc discharge method.