Abstract
In this work, carbon nanotubes (CNTs)/nitrogen-doped activated carbon (AC) hybrids were designed and fabricated using a facile and one-step synthesis. The synthesis of CNTs is based on the recently discovered phenomenon of thermally-induced polyfurfuryl alcohol (PFA) conversion. Hybrid materials are fabricated through the in-situ free growth of closed carbon nanotubes on low-cost activated carbon substrates which were obtained from green algae or amino acids. Herein, three types of carbon nanotubes were observed to freely grow on an activated carbon background from Chlorella vulgaris or l-lysine, types such as multiwalled carbon and bamboo-like nanotubes, whose structure depends on the background used and conditions of the synthesis. Structure type is identified by analyzing transmission electron microscopy images. HRTEM images reveal the tubes’ outer diameter to be in the range of 20–120 nm. Because the carbon surface for the growth of carbon tubes contains nitrogen, the final hybrid materials also possess pyridinic-N and quaternary-N groups, as indicated by X-ray photoelectron spectra.
Highlights
In this work, carbon nanotubes (CNTs)/nitrogen-doped activated carbon (AC) hybrids were designed and fabricated using a facile and one-step synthesis
The current paper aims to demonstrate the synthesis of three types of carbon nanotubes: multiwalled carbon nanotubes, amorphous carbon rods, and bamboo-like nanotubes on N-doped activated carbon obtained from Chlorella vulgaris or l-lysine
CNTs grown on the surface of N-doped carbon from C. vulgaris have different tube wall structures compared with crystalline CNTs grown on the background of N-doped carbon from l-lysine
Summary
Carbon nanotubes (CNTs)/nitrogen-doped activated carbon (AC) hybrids were designed and fabricated using a facile and one-step synthesis. To overcome certain problems with material properties, some groups have recently reported preparing nanocomposites containing CNTs and ordered mesoporous carbon (OMC) by combining the advantages of both carbon materials These OMC/CNTs nanocomposites, with a three-dimensionally (3D) interconnected pore structure, high specific surface area, and improved electronic coductivity, exhibited excellent electrochemical performance in areas of energy storage s ystems[25,26,27,28]. Their OMC mesostructure reduced ion Scientific Reports | (2020) 10:18793. The CNT/OMC composite could be used as support for a g-C3N4 photocatalyst and displayed excellent catalytic performance in the photoreduction of C O2 with H2O to produce value-added fuels[32]
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