Abstract:NiSO4·6H2O, NaH2PO2·H2O and nucleation inducer (NaBH4) were used as raw materials to prepare Ni-P powders by liquid phase reduction method. Helical carbon nano-fibers were synthesized by using graphite as a substrate and Ni-P nanopowder as a catalyst through chemical vapor deposition, where acetylene was the carbon source and nitrogen was the shielding gas. The products were characterized using SEM and SPM. The results show that Ni-P particles have the particle size of 100-300 nm, and the diameter of the prepared helical carbon fiber ranges from 0.2 μm to 0.4 μm, suggesting that the diameter of carbon fibers is associated with that of the catalyst. The morphology of helical carbon nanofibers is correlated with the synthesis temperature. When the synthesis temperature is 700 ℃, the helical carbon fibers exhibit a cylindrical shape and twin tightly. Its length is up to 3-6 μm. When the temperature is 750 ℃, the products is double helix spring form, and the length reaches 40-100 μm.