Growing carbon buckonions by radio frequency plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposition

The preparation of carbon buckonions is reported. Large quantities and high percentage of carbon buckonions can be synthesised hy radio frequency plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposition on the Co catalysts and Co-SiO2 catalysts. The product contains no carbon tubes,only carton onions,which are solid,smooth and clean and can be separated easily from the catalystic particles. The growth of carbon buckonions is based on the formation of many cages in successive stages from the core to the surface. High-resolution transmission electron microscopy indicates that the outer layers of the carbon buckonions produced on Co-SiO2 comprise unclosed small waving graphitic flakes. The formation process of these graphitic flakes is discussed.