RT Journal Article
ID 6d8e7e6e2d7c7f66
T1 ELECTROCHEMICAL INVESTIGATION OF THE FORMATION OF CARBON NANOTUBES IN MOLTEN SALTS
JF High Temperature Material Processes: An International Quarterly of High-Technology Plasma Processes
JO HTM
YR 1998
FD 1998-12-25
VO 2
IS 4
SP 459
OP 469
K1 carbon nanotubes
K1 graphite
K1 molten salts electrolysis
K1 cyclic voltammetry
K1 TEM
AB This paper reports a molten salt electrolytic method for the economical production of carbon nanotubes/particles. The method converts a normal graphite cathode in a bath of molten LiCl, NaCl or KCl into carbon nano-tubes and other nano-particles. The cathode erosion observed after electrolysis, together with cyclic voltammetry, indicates that the conversion must have resulted from the graphite intercalation of the alkali metal that is formed at the cathode during electrolysis. In addition, the electrolytic carbon nanotubes and particles are found to be partially filled with a graphite-non-wetting material that cannot result from the known capillary effect. Logic suggests that the filled material is the cathodically formed alkali metal and therefore argues strongly that the graphite intercalation of alkali metals plays an important role in the formation of the electrolytic carbon nanotubes. An intercalation mechanism for the graphite-nanotube conversion is proposed.
PB Begell House
LK https://www.dl.begellhouse.com/journals/57d172397126f956,3c91f3b012ebac9d,6d8e7e6e2d7c7f66.html