Enhanced Distribution and Anchorage of Carbon Nanofibers Grown on Structured Carbon Microfibers

Carbon nanofibers (CNFs) were immobilized on carbon microfiber (CMF) felt by chemical vapor deposition with Ni catalysts. A carbon coating, which was derived from a viscoid phenolic resin thin film involved with Ni salts, was introduced as a protect layer to stabilize the Ni nanoparticles for CNF growth, and as an interface to enhance the interaction between the CNFs and the CMFs, thus improving the uniformity and anchorage of the CNFs on the felt. The uniformly dispersed Ni nanoparticles in the carbon coating homogenously covering the CMF surfaces have resulted in a uniform layer of grown CNFs throughout the felt. The interlocked network of the entangled CNFs combined with possible penetration of the roots of CNFs into the carbon coating has enhanced the anchorage of CNFs on the surface of CMFs.