Catalyst-Free In Situ Carbon Nanotube Growth in Confined Space via High Temperature Gradient
Chaoji Chen,
Yanan Chen,
Shuze Zhu,
Jiaqi Dai,
Glenn Pastel,
Yonggang Yao,
Dapeng Liu,
Yanbin Wang,
Jiayu Wan,
Teng Li,
Wei Luo,
Liangbing Hu
Affiliations
Chaoji Chen
Department of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Maryland, College Park, MD 20742, USA
Yanan Chen
Department of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Maryland, College Park, MD 20742, USA
Shuze Zhu
Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Maryland, College Park, MD 20742, USA
Jiaqi Dai
Department of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Maryland, College Park, MD 20742, USA
Glenn Pastel
Department of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Maryland, College Park, MD 20742, USA
Yonggang Yao
Department of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Maryland, College Park, MD 20742, USA
Dapeng Liu
Department of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Maryland, College Park, MD 20742, USA
Yanbin Wang
Department of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Maryland, College Park, MD 20742, USA; Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Maryland, College Park, MD 20742, USA
Jiayu Wan
Department of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Maryland, College Park, MD 20742, USA
Teng Li
Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Maryland, College Park, MD 20742, USA
Wei Luo
Department of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Maryland, College Park, MD 20742, USA; Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Maryland, College Park, MD 20742, USA
Liangbing Hu
Department of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Maryland, College Park, MD 20742, USA
Carbonaceous materials, such as graphite, carbon nanotubes (CNTs), and graphene, are in high demand for a broad range of applications, including batteries, capacitors, and composite materials. Studies on the transformation between different types of carbon, especially from abundant and low-cost carbon to high-end carbon allotropes, have received surging interest. Here, we report that, without a catalyst or an external carbon source, biomass-derived amorphous carbon and defective reduced graphene oxide (RGO) can be quickly transformed into CNTs in highly confined spaces by high temperature Joule heating. Combined with experimental measurements and molecular dynamics simulations, we propose that Joule heating induces a high local temperature at defect sites due to the corresponding high local resistance. The resultant temperature gradient in amorphous carbon or RGO drives the migration of carbon atoms and promotes the growth of CNTs without using a catalyst or external carbon source. Our findings on the growth of CNTs in confined spaces by fast high temperature Joule heating shed light on the controlled transition between different carbon allotropes, which can be extended to the growth of other high aspect ratio nanomaterials.
