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Catalytically grown carbon filaments from a smelter aerosol

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Abstract

Aerosol particles consisting of complex intergrowths of carbon, copper and zinc occur in the plume downwind of a copper smelter. Using scanning and transmission electron microscopy we analyse their chemical and structural properties, and demonstrate how such an analysis can be used to fingerprint the source of atmospheric pollutants. The chemical and structural characteristics provide unique and highly specific information about their origin and catalytic growth mechanism.

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Author notes

  1. John P. Bradley

    Present address: Department of Astronomy FM-20, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, 98195, USA

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Departments of Chemistry and Geology, Arizona State University, Tempe, Arizona, 85287, USA

    John P. Bradley & Peter R. Buseck

Authors
  1. John P. Bradley
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  2. Peter R. Buseck
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Bradley, J., Buseck, P. Catalytically grown carbon filaments from a smelter aerosol. Nature 306, 770–772 (1983). https://doi.org/10.1038/306770a0

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/306770a0

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