Investigation of graphite/carbon spiral nanoribbons using FeCl3-CuCl2-graphite intercalation compounds as precursors

FeCl3-CuCl2-graphite intercalation compounds (GICs) were applied to synthesize graphite/carbon spiral nanoribbons (G/CSNRs) by chemical vapor deposition (CVD) of acetylene and hydrogen. The G/CSNRs were characterized by XRD, SEM and Raman spectra. The XRD patterns confirmed the G/CSNRs did contain graphite. The as-grown CSNRs were thin and twisted, owning a width of ~92 nm, a thread pitch of ~56 nm and a length in micrometer scale. The Raman spectra showed the imperfect crystallinity of CSNRs. During this CVD process, FeCl3-CuCl2-GICs acted as providers of graphite substrates as well as catalyst carriers. The CVD method mediated by GICs also provided possibilities to design and prepare a variety of hybrid carbon structures.