Synthesis of Y-junction carbon nanofibres by ethanol catalytic combustion technique

Y-shaped structure was synthesized by ethanol catalytic combustion（ECC） technique on the copper plate substrate, without directly seeding catalyst into the flame. The as-grown Y-junction carbon nanofibres were investigated by transmission electron microscopy （TEM）. The very common laboratory ethanol burner was used for synthesizing carbon nanofibres. Two kinds of the catalyst precursor, which are iron nitrate （Fe（NO3）3） and nickel nitrate （Ni（NO3）2）, were respectively employed to assist the formation of Y-junction carbon nanofibres. TEM analysis confirm the formation of Y-junction in the coiled and noncoiled carbon nanofibres. The type of the catalyst is found to be crucial to grow different Y-junction carbon nanofibres. Different Y-shaped structure may possess different mechanical and electronic properties. These three-terminal nanofibres provide the nanoelectronics community with a novel material for the development of molecular-scale electronic devices.