Tree-like carbon nanostructures generated by the action of atomic hydrogenon glassy carbon

Non-planar graphitic nanostructures have been generated by the reaction of atomic hydrogen with glassy carbon. The process allowed us to generate unco nventional graphite-based tree-like deposits protruding from the tips of th e etched glassy carbon surface. An individual tree-like deposit has dimensi ons ranging between 0.5 and 4 mum and is a porous aggregate of polyhedral n anoparticles and curled nanofilaments. Micro-Raman spectroscopy and electro n diffraction have been used to monitor the structural modifications induce d in the material. The Raman analysis of the bonding arrangement in the tre e-like deposits indicates that exclusively sp(2)-coordinated C atoms form t hese unusual carbon structures. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights r eserved.