New synthesis methods for fluorinated carbon nanofibres and applications

Several new synthesis methods of fluorinated carbon nanofibres, such as controlled fluorination using fluorinating agent (TbF4 or XeF2), or assisted fluorination under UV and gamma irradiation, are reviewed and compared with the direct fluorination using undiluted fluorine gas. The results highlight the different fluorination mechanisms for the direct fluorination and the new methods. The other advantage of those alternative fluorination routes is the possibility to provide fine tuning of the fluorination level, i.e. from F/C atomic ratio close to zero, as a functionalization, to the unity (CF1) according to the required application, electrochemical or tribological. Two applications are described in this paper as a function of the fluorine content: protection against ozonation and use as solid lubricants.