Carbon nanotube and carbon nanofiber composite films grown on different graphite substrate for capacitive deionization

The carbon nanotube and carbon nanofibre (CNT-CNF) composite films are synthesized on different graphite substrate by low-pressure and low-temperature chemical vapor deposition. Scanning electron microscopy measurement and N₂ adsorption experiment show that CNT-CNF composite films have network structure with optimal pore size distribution, which is beneficial to capacitive deionization. Atomic force microscopy result indicates that there is a strong correlation between the surface roughness of graphite and their thickness. Furthermore, the electrosorptive performance in salt solutions by employing as-grown CNT-CNF composite film is studied and found that the properties of the graphite substrate play a vital role in electrosorptive performance of CNT-CNF composite films by influencing their network structures.