Microstructure investigation and heat treatment of nanocrystalline laser-deposited carbon fibers

Carbon fibers were deposited by laser-assisted chemical vapor (LCVD) deposition from ethylene at sub-atmospheric pressure. Prior Raman spectroscopy analysis allowed the determination of the crystal size (average value of 3 nm in the edge region and from 8 to 113 nm in the center region). In this analysis, the microstructure of as-grown and heat treated fibers was examined using micro-Raman spectroscopy and transmission electron microscopy. The analysis revealed the degree of three-dimensional ordering of graphite planes and that the fibers were porous.