Electrochemical synthesis, morphological and structural characteristics of carbon nanomaterials produced in molten salts

Electrochemical synthesis in molten salts has great possibilities for the production of various carbonaceous materials (graphite, graphene, ultra-fine amorphous carbon, doped and undoped carbon nanotubes and fibers) in one step in the form of films and ultra-fine powders. Carbon dioxide dissolved in molten salts under excess pressure can be a carbon precursor during the synthesis. The peculiarities of electrochemical reduction of carbon in solid state from CO2 were studied by cyclic votammetry. The mechanisms of cathodic and anodic processes were suggested. The conditions (composition of electrolytic bath, temperature, cathodic current density, bath potential) of electrochemical synthesis of nanoscale carbon materials were determined. The properties of the produced carbon-containing products were analyzed by XRD, SEM, TEM, ED, Raman spectroscopy. A correlation of product properties with synthesis conditions and parameters has been made. (C) 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.