Growth of carbon octopus-like structures from carbon black in a fluidized bed

Carbon octopi like structures have been grown by catalytic conversion of carbon black in a fluidized bed with the help of ferrocene and acetylene. A growth mechanism has been proposed based on small-angle neutron scattering, scanning electron microscope and transmission electron microscope observations. Addition of carbon black primary particles into multiple nuclei of carbon cap on iron particles led the growth of these structures. It was concluded that the pentagon and heptagon defects in the carbon black have important roles in converting the spherical structure into a cylindrical structure.