Morphology Study of Prepared Carbon Nanotubes using Palm Oil as Carbon Source in Spray Pyrolysis Chemical Vapor Deposition

Abstract

Surface morphology study on the influence of starting carbon materials by using newly developed spray pyrolysis chemical vapor deposition (Spray‐CVD) to produced carbon nanotubes (CNTs) is investigated. The CNTs derived from palm oil as carbon sources were synthesized in Argon gas ambient by using Spray‐CVD system. The major parameters are also evaluated in order to obtain high‐yield and high‐quality CNTs. The prepared CNTs are examined using field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM) and high resolution transmission electron microscope (HR‐TEM) to determine the microstructure of nanocarbons. The FESEM investigation of the CNTs formed on the support catalysts provides evidence that palm oil can serve as a precursor materials for nanotubes formation. The high‐temperature graphitization process induced by the Spray‐CVD enables the hydrocarbons to act as carbon sources and changes the aromatic species into the layered graphite structure of CNTs. The palm oil of hydrocarbons not only found acts as the precursors but also enhances the production rate of CNTs.