Growth and Microstructure of Submicro-Scaled Graphitic Flakes on Carbon Fibers by Catalytic Chemical Vapor Deposition

Abstract

Submicro-scaled graphite flakes with uniform distribution on the surface of carbon fiber were grown in situ by catalytic chemical vapor deposition with natural gas as feedstock. Morphology and structure parameter of graphite flakes were characterized by scanning electron microscope and Raman spectroscopy respectively. The results show that graphite flakes with assistance of iron hydroxide aqueous collosol had better shape, higher density and graphitization degree compared with specimen prepared with ferric chloride solution. The size in plane of as grown graphite flakes is in the range of 1-3 μm. Microcrystal domain size of graphite flakes is calculated about 5 nm according to ration of intensity of D band to G band in Raman spectra.