A method for producing carbon nanotubes directly from plant materials

Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) were produced from plant materials using a cyclic oxidation process after the raw materials were pretreated by oxidative carbonization in air at about 240 degrees C. The cyclic oxidation process was found to be more effective than a continuous heating process in ablating the residual carbon from cellulose. The results also indicated that no CNTs were produced unless a preoxidation process was used, or when the cyclic oxidation temperature increased beyond 600 degrees C. Implications of this work for practical applications are discussed.