Synthesis and Characterization of Carbon Nano Spheres using Nickel Catalyst by Thermal Chemical Vapor Deposition

N Pradeep and Uma V

Abstract

Discovery of new nanostructures like carbon nanospheres are predicted to be a huge impact on applications of memory devices. In this paper Carbon nanospheres were grown on thin film nickel catalyst using thermal chemical vapour deposition. Different temperature was used to study the growth of nanospheres; Acetylene and Argon was used as precursors. Prior that nickel film was deposited on silicon substrate by using e-beam evaporation techniques. The prepared nickel film was annealed at different temperatures and it characterized by atomic force microscopy. It’s indicated the when temperature increased film roughness is also increasing. After preparation of carbon nanospheres were studied by Scanning electron microscopy and Energy dispersive X-ray analysis. The growth carbon nanospheres were not in uniform size at 800°C. At the temperature of 850°C and 900°C shows the tower and agglomerated spheres. Energy dispersive X-ray analysis confirms the carbon and nickel elements. Growth mechanism was also discussed.