Synthesis of Helical Carbon Fibers and Related Materials: A Review on the Past and Recent Developments

Helical carbon fibers (HCFs) have been widely studied due to their unique helical morphology and superior properties, which make them efficient materials for several potential applications. This review summarizes the past and current advancement on the synthesis of HCFs. The review focuses and discusses synthesis strategies and effect of experimental parameters on the growth of HCFs. The effect of preparation method of catalyst, catalyst nature, catalyst composition, catalyst size, catalyst initial and final shape, reaction temperature, reaction time, carbon source, impurities, and electromagnetic field on the growth of HCFs is reviewed. We also discuss the growth mechanism for HCFs and the synthesis of HCFs related materials. Finally, we conclude with a brief summary and an outlook on the challenges and future prospects of HCFs.