Simplified Synthesis of Multi-walled Carbon Nanotubes from a Botanical Hydrocarbon: Rosmarinus officinails oil

Rosmarinus officinails Oil, a botanical hydrocarbon has been found to be an effective precursor for the synthesis of multi-walled carbon nanotubes. Multi-walled carbon nanotubes were prepared by catalytic decomposition of Rosmarinus officinails oil over well dispersed Fe-Co catalyst impregnated silica support with 20 mL/hr feed rate of carbon source at 650 °C by spray pyrolysis method. The as grown multi-walled carbon nanotubes were characterized by FESEM, HRTEM, XRD and Raman spectroscopy. Raman spectroscopy reveals that as grown nanotubes are well graphitized. The HRTEM images reveal that the tip growth mechanisms of MWNTs with diameter range of 30-40 nm were found. We conclude that the Rosmarinus officinails oil has been found to be valuable precursor for the synthesis of low cost and high quality of MWNTs for large scale production.