Preparation of micron-sized carbon nanowalls-grown spherical carbon particles via thermal chemical vapor deposition using a tungsten mesh heater and alcohol

A simple, low-cost thermal chemical vapor deposition method is reported for the production of micron-sized carbon nanowalls (CNWs) on spherical carbon particles using ethyl alcohol as a carbon source. The resulting CNWs had structural disorder and contained many defects, as indicated by the low IG/ID ratio (the ratio of the G band to D band peaks) in the Raman spectrum. The CNWs had heights and widths of approximately 10 µm, making them larger than previously reported CNWs. Using a tungsten mesh heater, they were produced at 730 °C, whereas submicron-sized amorphous carbon were produced with a tungsten plate heater. However, CNWs were not produced at 800 °C, even when using the tungsten mesh heater. The reason for the latter is unclear, while the growth at 730 °C is attributed to the preferential formation of sp2-bonded carbon.