Skip to main content

Thank you for visiting nature.com. You are using a browser version with limited support for CSS. To obtain the best experience, we recommend you use a more up to date browser (or turn off compatibility mode in Internet Explorer). In the meantime, to ensure continued support, we are displaying the site without styles and JavaScript.

  • Letter
  • Published:

A novel form of filamentous graphite

Abstract

CARBONACEOUS materials exist in many forms, with structures varying in the degree of structural order from diamond and hexagonal graphite to the less-ordered chars, soots and coals. Traditionally, graphite is produced from the less-ordered forms of carbon by exposing them to severe conditions of high temperature and pressure. Recently, there has been much interest in preparing highly ordered phases under relatively benign conditions. For example, diamond has been synthesized at low pressures1,2, and carbon deposition on transition-metal catalysts has been shown to produce highly graphitic phases in a variety of morphologies3,4. Here we show that disproportionation of carbon monoxide (2CO →C+CO2) catalysed by small iron-containing particles gives rise to a remarkably continuous stacking of fine graphitic layers on flat surfaces of the particles, producing carbon filaments with a ribbon-like morphology. Transmission electron microscopy reveals that stacking of the layers is not only very ordered but also unusual in being orientated perpendicular to the ribbon surface. These filaments may provide unique opportunities for studies of surface adsorption, catalysis and intercalation.

This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution

Access options

Rent or buy this article

Prices vary by article type

from$1.95

to$39.95

Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Spear, K. E. J. Am. Ceram. Soc. 72, 171–191 (1989).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  2. Angus, J. C. & Hayman, C. C. Science 241, 913–921 (1988).

    Article  ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  3. Baker, R. T. K. & Harris, P. S. in Chemistry and Physics of Carbon (eds Walker, P. I. & Thrower, J. A.) Vol. 14, 83–165 (Dekker, New York, 1978).

    Google Scholar 

  4. Trimm, D. L. Catal. Rev. Sci. Engng 16, 155–189 (1977).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  5. Baird, T., Fryer, J. R. & Grant, B. Carbon 12, 591–602 (1974).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  6. Ruston, W. R., Warzee, M., Hennaut, J. & Waty, J. Carton 7, 47–57 (1969).

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  7. Baird, T., Fryer, J. R. & Grant, B. Nature 233, 329–330 (1971).

    Article  ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  8. Baker, R. T. K., Harris, P. S. & Terry, S. Nature 253, 37–39 (1975).

    Article  ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  9. Oberlin, A., Endo, M. & Koyama, T. J. Cryst. Growth 32, 335–349 (1976).

    Article  ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  10. Audier, M. & Coulon, M. Carbon 23, 317–323 (1985).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  11. Yang, R. T. & Chen, J. P. J. Catal. 115, 52–64 (1989).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  12. Boehm, H. P. Carbon 11, 583–590 (1973).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  13. Maire, J. & Mering, J. in Chemistry and Physics of Carbon (eds Walker, P. L. & Thrower, J. A.) Vol. 6, 125–190 (Dekker, New York, 1971).

    Google Scholar 

  14. Speck, J. S., Endo, M. & Dresselhaus, M. S. J. Cryst. Growth 94, 834–848 (1989).

    Article  ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Murayama, H., Maeda, T. A novel form of filamentous graphite. Nature 345, 791–793 (1990). https://doi.org/10.1038/345791a0

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/345791a0

This article is cited by

Comments

By submitting a comment you agree to abide by our Terms and Community Guidelines. If you find something abusive or that does not comply with our terms or guidelines please flag it as inappropriate.

Search

Quick links

Nature Briefing

Sign up for the Nature Briefing newsletter — what matters in science, free to your inbox daily.

Get the most important science stories of the day, free in your inbox. Sign up for Nature Briefing