Wet catalyst assisted growth of carbon nanofibers on complex three-dimensional substrates

Carbon nanofibers are grown from different organo-metallic catalysts by thermal and plasma-enhanced chemical vapour deposition on complex three-dimensional foam and cloth substrates. With a suitable deposition arrangement, we can achieve uniform coverage by using Ni formate and Co colloid catalysts instead of evaporated or sputtered thin metal films. Chemical vapour deposition (CVD) allows the direct growth of carbon nanofibers onto these substrates with good surface adhesion. The use of plasma-enhanced CVD enables fiber alignment and a low deposition temperature, down to 250 °C.