PREPARATION OF CARBON NANOTUBES BY FLUIDIZED FLOATING CATALYST METHOD USING NATURAL SOURCE

Abstract

Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) have been successfully prepared at a low temperature of 650°C by using fluidized floating catalyst method. Optimum concentration for Fe/Ni/Mg (molar ratio of Fe:Ni:Mg = 1:1:1 ) has been found to be around 2.133% for the best yield. CNTs are produced from the evaporation of the precursor (camphor oil) which decomposes in situ and aggregates on the metal alloy catalyst particles present in the evaporating boat. Since the metallic alloy was obtained by calcining the respective nitrates, it is expected to have residual of entrapped nitrogen which may bond with the depositing CNT. This result demonstrates that fluidized floating catalyst method is suitable for effective formation of CNTs with average size ~ 11 nm. The morphological studies support "tip growth mechanism" for the growth of the CNTs in our case. The as-grown CNTs were characterized by FESEM and FTIR spectroscopy. FTIR spectra confirm the presence of nitrogen in the prepared CNTs which is embedded on the carbon surface in the form of C–N bonding instead of intercalating within the nanotubes. Results from XRD analysis indicate the existence of improved in-plane (cylindrical layer) and interlayer graphitic structure.