In CNTs graphene layers are wrapped as hollow cylinders whereas in CNF, the graphene layers can be stacked as platelet, ribbon like or herringbone structure..
See Figure 1 of this paper.. DOI: 10.1039/B9AY00312F
Carbon nanotubes are cylindrical and hollow like a tube but carbon nanofibers are like rods and there is no inner empty space within them
The CNFs shoud be with a hollow channel but cone-like and without it. Also you have the orientation of graphene layers in a fiber not a parallel to fiber axis. Its concluded that the CNTs have the g.layers parallel to tube axis.
The CNFs posses higher disorder degree than CNTs (the synthesis of CNTs carries out at higher temperatures). You can feel the difference by TEM or Raman (the RBM-mode are in the spectrum of CNTs).
The CNTs have lower diameter that CNFs. The diameter of CNFs can be higher than 80-100 nm.
Tubes are the rolled graphene sheet. Fibers are all the carbon nano chips stacking on top of each other and form the fiber form. The diameter of CNF is larger than single-wall nanotubes. See the CNF SEM image we have in our paper: http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/app.37963/abstract
Generally, carbon nanofibers (CNFs) are cylindric nanostructures with graphene layers arranged as stacked cones, cups or plates. Carbon nanofibers with graphene layers wrapped into perfect cylinders are called carbon nanotubes. You can characterize both structure with using some electron microscope techniques such as TEM, SEM,FTSEM.
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I am very new in the field of carbon nano fibres /tubes. I want to know , how one can avoid formation of carbon nano tubes as I want to deposit carbon nano fibres. Are there any critical factors through which I can control their growth?
I would be greatful if someone can help me in this regard?
I have self designed CVD reactor for CNT production but at first run I had the attached result. They are visually similar to CNT's but pretty thick (diameters>400nm) tubes. Can they be Carbon nano fibres?
What differentiates their production methods?@Muhammad Naveed
I want to produce Carbon Nanotubesd
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