Synthesis of Nanostructured Carbon Materials on a Tin Thin Film Using Phenol Formaldehyde as the Carbon Source

Abstract

Nanostructured carbon materials were successfully synthesized on a tin thin film using a commercially available paper phenolic (PP) board, which is composed mainly of phenol formaldehyde (PF), as the carbon source. The heating source for thermal decomposition of PF is a current-stressed Cu trace which was patterned on the PP board near the tin thin film. The tin thin film was deposited on the PP board near the Cu trace using evaporation. During thermal treatment, nanostructured carbon materials were formed on the tin thin film. The synthesized products contain carbon nanosheets and tubular carbon nanofibers (CNFs) in which the former was formed near the heating Cu trace and the latter was found at a more distant location. A potential mechanism for the formation of nanostructured carbon materials is also discussed.