Preparation of graphitic carbon nanofibres by in situ catalytic graphitisation of phenolic resins

Graphitic carbon nanofibres were prepared using NiC2O4·2H2O nanofibres as both the templates and catalyst precursors via the in situ catalytic graphitisation of phenolic resins. The influence of temperature on the phase and microstructure evolution of the NiC2O4·2H2O/phenolic resin composite was investigated by X-ray diffraction analysis, field-emission scanning electron microscopy, energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, and transmission electron microscopy. The results showed that the graphitisation process begins at 1073 K, with the aid of nickel as graphitisation catalyst. The proportion of graphitic nanostructures in the carbonised sample increased with the increasing temperature. The highly crystalline nanostructures trapped in the matrix of the carbonised phenolic resins kept the fibrous morphology of the NiC2O4·2H2O nanofibres. The homogeneous dispersion of the NiC2O4·2H2O nanofibres in the phenolic resin determined the homogeneous formation of the graphitic carbon nanofibres in the matrix during in situ catalytic graphitisation. The fabrication of the graphitic carbon nanofibres was proposed to occur via a dissolution–precipitation mechanism.