Recent developments of camphor based carbon nanomaterial: Their latent applications and future prospects

Abstract

Carbon nanomaterials have gained tremendous importance in nanoscience owing to their excellent properties and versatile applications. However, the major concern in using carbon nanomaterial is that they are costly to synthesize and use harmful precursors throughout their synthesis. Therefore, alternative means for the production of carbon nanomaterials using safer and greener sources are being currently investigated. In this viewpoint, camphor has demonstrated potential for the synthesis of new carbon nanomaterials with excellent physico-chemical property and biocompatibility. However the research on camphor based nanomaterials has not received much attention in the scientific community. Apart from traditional carbon nanomaterials like carbon nanotube, graphene and fullerene, camphor has the potential to synthesize new materials like carbon nanoparticles, nano-onions and carbon dots using simpler techniques for potential industrial applications. The present review focuses on the recent developments on camphor based carbon nanomaterials, their latent applications and future prospects.