Preparation and properties of cosmo-mimetic carbon micro-coils and ceramic micro-solenoids/micro-tubes by CVD process

Cosmo-mimetic carbon micro-coils were obtained by the catalytic pyrolysis of acetylene with a small amount of thiophene, and the preparation conditions were examined. The oxidation of a metal catalyst strongly affects the growth of carbon coils. Light emission and a temperature increase of 20-25 degrees C were observed during the reaction, and these have some relationships with the reaction of growing carbon coils. Application of a bias voltage to the substrate was very effective for obtaining a high coil yield. The carbon coils could be graphitized by a heat treatment at 3000 degrees C for 6 hrs in a CO/CO(2) atmosphere. TaC microsolenoids/micro-tubes and other ceramic micro-tubes, such as TiC, TiN, NbC, and NbN, were prepared by the vapor phase metallizing and metallizing/nitriding of the regular and densely coiled carbon coils.