Title
Plasma synthesis of hexagonal-pyramidal graphite hillocks
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
9-2014
Abstract
We report on the synthesis and natural occurrence of hexagonal-pyramidal graphite hillocks on graphite crystal substrates. Synthetic hillocks were obtained from flexible graphite sheets and highly oriented pyrolytic graphite via argon plasma etching in a standard helicon configuration reactor. High-resolution transmission electron microscopy and electron diffraction suggest these hillocks have a high degree of perfection. Their size distribution ranges from 50 to 800 nm across and up to 1 μm along the c-axis. As a reference, natural crystals from Tanzania exhibiting the same morphology are presented. Also, a formation mechanism of the plasma-synthesized structures by an etching process is detailed. This new type of vertically aligned carbon nano- and microstructures presents a peculiar geometry including nano-arches at the graphite edge planes which induce a strong resistance to the plasma etching.
Publication Title
Carbon
Recommended Citation
Glad, X.,
Poucques, L. d.,
Jaszczak, J. A.,
Belmahi, M.,
Ghanbaja, J.,
&
Bougdira, J.
(2014).
Plasma synthesis of hexagonal-pyramidal graphite hillocks.
Carbon,
76, 330-340.
http://doi.org/10.1016/j.carbon.2014.04.084
Retrieved from: https://digitalcommons.mtu.edu/physics-fp/33
Publisher's Statement
© 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved. Publisher's version of record: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.carbon.2014.04.084