Synthesis of chaoite-like macrotubes at low temperature and ambient pressure

Chaoite-like carbon was prepared by quenching the pyrolysate of acetylene gas at 873 K and ambient pressure. Its morphology is carbon macrotubes (CMTs) with 20–60 μm in diameter and up to 8 mm in length. Microstructure analysis revealed that sp-bonded carbon (SPBC) chains in CMTs are kinked and the crystal orientation is anisotropic along the length and circumference directions of CMTs. A SPBC belt scrolling model was proposed for explaining the formation process of CMTs.