Investigation of graphite/carbon spiral nanoribbons using FeCl3–CuCl2–graphite intercalation compounds as precursors

FeCl3–CuCl2–graphite intercalation compounds (GICs) were applied to synthesize graphite/carbon spiral nanoribbons (G/CSNRs) by chemical vapor deposition (CVD) of acetylene and hydrogen. The G/CSNRs were characterized by XRD, SEM and Raman spectra. The XRD patterns confirmed the G/CSNRs did contain graphite. The as-grown CSNRs were thin and twisted, owning a width of ~92 nm, a thread pitch of ~56 nm and a length in micrometer scale. The Raman spectra showed the imperfect crystallinity of CSNRs. During this CVD process, FeCl3–CuCl2–GICs acted as providers of graphite substrates as well as catalyst carriers. The CVD method mediated by GICs also provided possibilities to design and prepare a variety of hybrid carbon structures.