Ferritin-mixed solution plasma system yielding low-dimensional carbon nanomaterials and their application to flexible conductive paper

•We construct a ferritin-mixed solution plasma system for low-dimensional carbon nanomaterial synthesis.•We confirm the formation of graphitic plates, carbon nanotubes, and onion-like structures.•The structural quality of the products using the ferritin-mixed solution is greater than that using DI water only.•We also fabricate flexible conductive paper using the produced nanomaterials.

We demonstrate the production of low-dimensional carbon nanomaterials using a solution plasma system and their application to flexible conductive paper. The solution plasma system consists of two graphite electrodes and a beaker filled with ferritin-mixed deionized water. Ferritin molecules are used as the growth catalyst of the carbon nanomaterials. A high voltage of 15 kV at a frequency of 25 kHz is supplied to the electrodes using an alternating-current power source. The effects of the graphite rod diameters and the concentration of ferritin molecules are comparatively investigated. The produced carbon nanomaterials are characterized using Raman spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy, and transmission electron microscopy. We confirmed the synthesis of graphitic platelets, onion-like structures, and carbon nanotubes. Finally, we fabricated flexible conductive papers using the produced materials with a good electrical conductance.