Synthesis of Carbon Nanofibers and Pt-Nanocluster-Based Electrochemical Microsystems by Combining Low-Pressure Helicon Plasma Techniques

Although carbon-nanofiber (CNFs) or nanotube growth and their applications are well documented, engineering their shape and their integration in a microsystem for successful applications is an important issue. We report on the synthesis of aligned CNFs (ACNFs) covered by metallic catalytic nanoclusters by a combination of different low-pressure deposition techniques based on high-density radio-frequency helicon plasmas. An image of a ldquobright-dress-shaperdquo helicon plasma and of a synthesized ACNF coated by Pt nanoclusters is presented.