Carbon nanotubes from camphor by catalytic CVD

Abstract

Multi-wall carbon nanotubes (MWNTs) have been grown from simple pyrolysis of camphor, a botanical hydrocarbon, at 900degreesC for 15 min in argon atmosphere at ambient pressure using ferrocene as a catalyst. The nanotube diameter is fairly uniform (20-40 nm) and the yield is extremely high (similar to90%). Structural characterization is done by SEM, TEM, HRTEM, EDX and Raman analyses. Good crystallinity, high purity, and absence of amorphous carbon and metal particles are the special features of camphor-pyrolyzed nanotubes.