New route: Convertion of coconut shell tobe graphite and graphene nano sheets

Abstract

In this paper, we reported the simple way to generate both graphite and graphene nano sheets base on renewable natural resources (charcoal). The aims of this research are producing graphite and graphene nano sheets switching using simple way and to discuss the effect of vessel to properties of carbon. The research method concise of several steps: Step-1. The coconut as a raw material, we peeled coconuts to separate their fiber and shell, resulting coconut shell. Step-2. Each of coconut shell put on alumina (Al) vessel and glass vessel. Step-3. Both of them were cracked by using oven (T = 200 °C), resulting coconut water and coconut shell. Step-4. Each of coconut shell were pyrolized on tanur at T = 600 °C to generate charcoals. Step-5. Each of charcoal was analyzed by using X-ray diffraction (XRD). Interestingly, the properties of charcoal are totally different. There is effect of kind of vessel for carbon properties. While, coconut was on Al vessel, the resulting charcoal shows that the sharp peak appears at 2θ (27.8640 Å), indicating the graphite (C-sp3) is formed (XRD data). On the other hand, if we put coconut on the glass vessel, the charcoal converted tobe graphene nano sheets. It was clarified by the weak and broad peak at 2θ (23.64°). We concluded that we may produce directly graphite and also graphene by using simple method.