In Situ Transmission Electron Microscope: Joule Heating Effect on Graphitization of Copper Incorporated Carbon Nanofiber

Abstract

The joule heating process on copper (Cu) incorporated carbon nanofiber was observed carefully under the in-situ transmission electron microscope (TEM) facilities. Significant structural formation was occurred after the joule heating process showing a single crystalline encapsulated graphitic structure with dramatic improvement on graphitic structure of carbon nanofiber from amorphous to crystalline. The latter structure knowingly similar to multi-layered graphene structure. This Cu incorporated carbon nanofiber initially was shaped by the mixture of amorphous carbon and very fine crystalline Cu structure significantly changed by the effect of applied bias voltage. The change of Cu particles crystallinity also showing that the important of crystalline structure for the graphene formation. The in situ TEM results might provide very useful information on the formation of graphene and the solid phase reaction which is very interesting and vital in the graphene synthesis mechanism.