Graphitization by Metal Particles

Goldie, Stuart J; Coleman, Karl S

Abstract

Graphitization of carbon offers a promising route to upcycle waste biomass and plastics into functional carbon nanomaterials for a range of applications including energy storage devices. One challenge to the more widespread utilization of this technology is controlling the carbon nanostructures formed. In this work, we undertake a meta-analysis of graphitization catalyzed by transition metals, examining the available electron microscopy data of carbon nanostructures and finding a correlation between different nanostructures and metal particle size. By considering a thermodynamic description of the graphitization process on transition-metal nanoparticles, we show an energy barrier exists that distinguishes between different growth mechanisms. Particles smaller than ∼25 nm in radius remain trapped within closed carbon structures, while nanoparticles larger than this become mobile and produce nanotubes and ribbons. These predictions agree closely with experimentally observed trends and should provide a framework to better understand and tailor graphitization of waste materials into functional carbon nanostructures.

Citation

Goldie, S. J., & Coleman, K. S. (2023). Graphitization by Metal Particles. ACS Omega, 8(3), 3278-3285. https://doi.org/10.1021/acsomega.2c06848

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Dec 28, 2022
• Online Publication Date: Jan 12, 2023
• Publication Date: 2023
• Deposit Date: Apr 27, 2023
• Publicly Available Date: Apr 28, 2023
• Journal: ACS Omega
• Electronic ISSN: 2470-1343
• Publisher: American Chemical Society
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 8
• Issue: 3
• Pages: 3278-3285
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1021/acsomega.2c06848