COMPARISON BETWEEN TWO ALTERNATIVES METHODS OF GRAPHITIC NANOFIBER PURIFICATION

An efficient purification procedure for the punfication of Graphite Nanofibers (GNFs)
based on chemical treatment is discussed. There are two different methods of
purification steps. The first process involves benzene washing, ultrasonic acid treatment,
nitric acid treatment at 70°C and freezing in liquid nitrogen. The second method
involves nitric acid wash and hydrogen peroxide reaction. The two methods are
compared to acquire the most cost effective and simplest pur-ification method. Most of
amorphous carbon as well as metal particles were successfully removed from the GNF
product. Raman Spectroscopy, X-Ray diffraction (XRD) and Field Emission Scanning
Electron Microscopy (FESEM) are used to evaluate the purification process of the
GNFs.