Low temperature fabrication of hollow carbon nanospheres over Ni/Al2O3 by the catalytic method

Abstract: A mass of hollow carbon nanospheres was fabricated by chemical vapor deposition of methane over Ni/Al2O3 catalyst at 600°C. The products were characterized with scanning electron microscope, transmission electron microscope, and high-resolution transmission electron microscope images. The results showed that the external diameter of the hollow carbon nanospheres was 5–90nm and the thickness of the wall was about 15nm. And a possible formation mechanism of the hollow carbon nanospheres was discussed. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]