How do vapor grown carbon nanofibers nucleate and grow from deoiled asphalt?

▶ A modified growth mechanism of carbon nanofibers was proposed. ▶ Growth process includes (1) pyrolysis and aggregation, (2) nucleation, coalescence and self-assembly and (3) deveplopment and maturation. ▶ The nucleation and rearrangement of graphitic layers depend on the crystal orientation of the metal nanoparticles.