On the carbo-thermal reduction of silica for carbon nano-fibre formation via CVD

ABSTRACTThe formation of carbon nanostructures using silica nanoparticles from quartz substrates as a catalyst in an aerosol assisted chemical vapor deposition process was examined. The silica particles are reduced to silicon carbide via a carbothermal reduction process. The recyclability of the explored quartz substrates is also presented. The addition of triethyl borate improves the efficiency of the carbothermal reduction process and carbon nanotubes formation. Moreover, the addition of hydrogen during the chemical vapor deposition leads to the helical carbon nanostructures formation.