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We report the synthesis of a novel type of carbon-based nanostructure, which is composed of a string of carbon nanopearl chains (CNPCs) with a connection structure of carbon nanofibers using a chemical vapor deposition method. Regularly spaced, nanometer-sized balls of graphitic carbon are found on the amorphous nanofibers. The nanopearls have nanometer-sized spheres, bodies in diameter varying from tens of nanometers to hundreds of nanometers, with solid interiors. The chain connections have a length ranging from several nanometers up to micrometers between two nanopearls. The nanopearls connect each other by the nanofibers, thus forming a chain. The CNPCs have potential for use as reinforcing matrix to produce strong and tough carbon-based nanocomposites. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Efficient synthesis of large-scale vertically aligned nitrogen-doped carbon nanotube arrays (VA-NCNTs) has always been a challenge. In this study, we proposed a facile way to obtain mass VA-NCNTs between vermiculite layers by horizonal chemical vapor deposition (CVD). Vermiculite with layered compound as the catalyst substrate, Fe and Mo as the active metal phase is evenly distributed between the vermiculite layers, melamine is pyrolyzed as a single source for both carbon and nitrogen to synthesize nitrogen-doped carbon nanotube (CNT) array materials with relatively uniform length and diameter at an optimum temperature of 800 °C. We explored the effect of temperature on synthesis of VA-NCNTs, the results indicated that the VA-NCNTs are sensitive to temperature changes during the CVD synthesis process, the arrangement, diameter, nitrogen content, and the type of nitrogen function of CNTs could be modified. This work contributes to the study of how the growth temperature affecting the morphology of the as-prepared CNTs, and provides a potential method for the controllable mass production of oriented NCNTs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]