Synthesis of MWCNTs using waste toner powder as carbon source by chemical vapor deposition method

Abstract

The present work deals with the synthesis of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) from waste toner powder. XRD pattern of waste toner showed peaks related to magnetite and proximate analysis showed higher percentage of volatile matter (56.7%) which confirmed the possibility of using waste toner as a good source of carbon for the synthesis of CNTs. The process involved thermal breakdown of waste toner into hydrocarbons and used as a precursor to synthesize multi-walled carbon-nanotubes (MWCNTs) by chemical vapor deposition (CVD) method. The catalyst containing Ni4Mo0.2MgO1 was used for synthesis of CNTs. The process parameters were optimized using response surface methodology (RSM) and prepared CNTs were studied by using XRD, Raman spectroscopy, FESEM and HRTEM. The results shown the formation of multi walled carbon nanotubes with 40–50 nm from waste toner.