Obtaining carbon nanotubes from grass

Abstract

Multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MCNTs) can be obtained by heating grass in the presence of a suitable amount of oxygen. Grass contains a large amount of vascular bundles in the stem and nervation. The major compositions of them are cellulose, hemicellulose and lignin. In the present approach, a rapid heat treatment (at about 600 °C) and the participation of oxygen make the vascular bundles become dehydrated and turn into carbon nanotubes. The diameters of the carbon nanotubes obtained are between 30 and 50 nm.