Synthesis of carbon nanostructures by microwave plasma chemical vapor deposition and their characterization

Carbon nanostructures including carbon nanoparticles and tubular carbon nanostructures were synthesized by microwave plasma chemical vapor deposition. The nanoparticles were synthesized from the mixture of H2 and CH4 and the tubular nanostructures were obtained from the mixture of N2 and CH4. The tubular nanostructures are composed of nanotubes and nanofibres. The size of the nanoparticles is in the range of several tens of nanometer to more than 200 nm. Raman spectra indicate a graphitic structure both for the carbon nanoparticles and tubular nanostructures. Catalyst is needed for growing the carbon nanostructures.