In-situ transmission electron microscope: joule heating effect on graphitisation of copper incorporatedcarbon nanofiber

Abstract

The Joule heating process on copper (Cu) incorporated carbon nanofiber was observed carefully under the in-situ transmission electron microscope (TEM) facilities. A significant structural formation occurred after the Joule heating process showing a single crystalline encapsulated graphitic structure with dramatic improvement on graphitic structure of carbon nanofiber from amorphous to crystalline. The latter structure is knowingly similar to multi-layered graphene structure. This Cu incorporated carbon nanofiber initially was shaped by the mixture of amorphous carbon and very fine crystalline Cu structure which was significantly changed by the effect of applied bias voltage. The change of Cu particles crystallinity also shows the importance of crystalline structure for the graphene formation. The in-situ TEM results provide useful information on the formation of graphene and the solid phase reaction which is interesting and vital in graphene synthesis mechanism.