Palm Oil Precursor Research Articles

Scaled-up prototype of carbon nanotube production system utilizing waste cooking palm oil precursor and its nanocomposite application as supercapacitor electrodes

A simple approach has been introduced for the first time for a scaled-up prototype of a carbon nanotube (CNT) production system by utilizing waste cooking palm oil (WCPO) as carbon feedstock. A modified thermal chemical vapor deposition (TCVD) setup is equipped with a peristaltic sprayer to continuously supply the precursor and catalyst into the system. A total amount of 1000 ml WCPO precursor was sprayed continuously during the experiment with 5.33 wt% ferrocene as catalyst at a flow rate of 30 ml/min. A total of ~433 g CNT were produced with a high carbon conversion rate of 56 %. The produced CNT were then characterized by using electron microscopy, micro-Raman spectroscopy, and thermogravimetric analysis. Growth of dense CNT with a high purity of ~87 % and good crystallinity (ID/IG ratio ~0.47) occurred. A CNT/natural rubber-latex (NRL) nanocomposite was also prepared by using latex nanotechnology for supercapacitor application. The nanocomposite exhibited a good capacitance performance with a specific capacitance of 81.82 F/g. This study determined that a high production of CNT using modified TCVD method provided benefits for its utilization as composite material, especially CNT/NRL nanocomposite, for supercapacitor application.

Nano-structured amorphous carbon films using novel palm oil precursor for solar cell applications

The nano-structured of as-deposited (a-C) and boron-doped amorphous carbon (a-C:B) films prepared from natural palm oil precursor for solar cell applications were presented. Field-emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM) revealed films had particle size in the range of 28–59nm. The energy-dispersive spectroscopy (EDS) showed the existing of carbon and boron on films was amorphous in nature by Raman spectra. Solar simulator analysis results showed an open circuit voltage (VOC), current density (JSC), fill-factor (FF) and conversion efficiency (η) of Au/a-C/n-Si/Au were 0.265V, 1.505mA/cm2, 0.327 and 0.1302%, respectively. Meanwhile, the VOC, JSC, FF and η of Au/a-C:B/n-Si/Au solar cell were 0.272V, 14.92mA/cm2, 0.336, and 1.543%, respectively. The conversion efficiency was increased by boron doping to 1.543%.

Enhanced field electron emission of flower-like zinc oxide on zinc oxide nanorods grown on carbon nanotubes

For the first time, zinc oxide (ZnO) nanoflowers on ZnO nanorods were produced on carbon nanotubes (CNTs) synthesised from waste cooking palm oil precursor. First, CNTs were grown using a thermal chemical vapour deposition method. Next, ZnO nanostructures were deposited using the sonicated sol–gel immersion method and the prepared samples were characterised using electron microscopy, micro-Raman spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction. The field electron emission properties of the samples indicated that the ZnO nanoflowers grown on the CNTs had better emission performances than the pristine aligned ZnO nanorods. The resulting CNTs/ZnO nanocomposite had reasonable turn-on and threshold fields of 4.6 and 6.7V/µm, which corresponded with the electric fields required to create current densities of 1.0µA/cm2 and 0.1mA/cm 2, respectively. This study shows the important roles of CNTs in ZnO nanoflowers growth and the abilities of CNTs to enhance ZnO emission properties.

P-type properties of micro and nano-structured carbon films from hydrocarbon palm oil in photovoltaic heterojunction solar cell applications

The micro and nano-structured amorphous carbon as p-type films prepared from natural palm oil precursor for heterojunction solar cell were presented. Field-emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM) revealed the micro and nano structured films had particle size in the range of 382 nm to 689 nm and 28 to 34 nm, respectively. The energy-dispersive spectroscopy (EDS) showed the existing of carbon in micro-structured amorphous carbon film and carbon together with boron in nano-structured amorphous carbon film. Solar simulator analysis results showed an open circuit voltage (VOC), current density (JSC), fill-factor(FF) and conversion efficiency (η) of Au/a-C/n-Si/Au were 264.62 mV, 1.50434 mA/cm2, 0.32632, and 0.130154 %, respectively. Meanwhile, the VOC, JSC, FF and η of Au/a-C:B/n-Si/Au solar cell were 271.25 mV, 14.91723 mA/cm2, 0.33582, and 1.542622 %, respectively. The conversion efficiency was increased as the p-type film was in nanostructure form.

Effect of Iron and Cobalt Catalysts on The Growth of Carbon Nanotubes from Palm Oil Precursor

Catalysts which are typically a transition metal is mandatory and plays an important role in the production of CNT. In this work, the effect of iron (Fe) and cobalt (Co) nitrate catalyst on the growth of carbon nanotubes (CNT) were systematically studied. Green bio-hydrocarbon precursor namely palm oil was used as a precursor. The synthesis was done using thermal chemical vapour deposition method at temperature of 750°C for 15 min synthesis time. The Fe and Co solution were spin-coated separately on silicon substrate at speed of 3000 rev.min-1. The CNT characteristics were analyzed using field emission scanning electron microscopy and micro-Raman spectroscopy. The experimental results revealed that CNT properties were strongly affected by the catalyst type. CNT catalyzed by Co yields large diameter, crooked tube and lower quality, whereas CNT produced by Fe catalyst results in the smallest diameter and reasonably good graphitization. As a conclusion, Fe was considered as the optimum catalyst for better CNT structure and crystallinity. This was due to efficient, uniform and stable Fe catalytic activity as compared to Co catalyst in producing CNT.

Deposition of Amorphous Carbon Thin Films via Bias Assisted Pyrolysis-CVD

The as deposited amorphous carbon (a-C) thin films were successfully deposited by using ethanol and palm oil precursors via a novel bias assisted pyrolysis-CVD ranging from 300oC to 550oC with constant of negative bias -40V and -50V in 3h and 1h deposition. The thin films were characterized by atomic force microscopic (AFM), field emission scanning electron microscopic (FESEM), and I-V measurement. The resistivity of as deposited a-C thin films using ethanol precursor at 300oC, 350oC, 400oC and 500oC were 9.57 x106Ω/cm, 9.44 x106Ω/cm, 9.81 x105Ω/cm and 337738.124 Ω/cm respectively and conductivity were 1.00445 x10-7 cm/Ω, 1.0593 x10-7,cm/Ω, 1.01963x10-6 cm/Ω, and 2.67825 x10-6 cm/Ω. For palm oil precursor (400oC-550oC), the resistivity were calculated, 3.83x104Ω/cm, 1.32x104Ω/cm, 3.77x104Ω/cm, and 4.19x105Ω/cm respectively while conductivity were 2.61 x 10- 5 cm/Ω, 7.60 x 10- 5 cm/Ω, 2.65 x 10- 5 cm/Ω, and 2.39 x 10- 6 cm/Ω. The samples showed all the resistivity values were in the range of semiconductor. The results showed that increasing temperature decreased resistivity of thin films for ethanol precursor. The resistivity thin films obtained from palm oil precursor were smaller as compared with ethanol precursor.

The Effect of Temperature on Carbon Nanotubes Grown Using Monometallic Catalyst from Palm Oil Precursor

The effects of temperature on carbon nanotubes (CNTs) by thermal chemical vapor deposition (TCVD) method were systematically studied. Natural hydrocarbon source; palm oil was used as precursor and argon as carrier gas. Palm oil vaporized optimally at 450oC in ambient pressure. The synthesis temperature start at 650°C and were increased at rate of 50°C for series of samples until it reaches maximum temperature of 900°C. The samples were grown on nickel nitrate, which was coated on silicon substrate. The CNTs characteristics were studied using field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), Raman and infrared (IR) spectroscopy. The experimental results revealed that CNTs properties are highly dependent on temperature. It was found that with increasing synthesis temperature, the CNTs diameter decreased initially and then increased after passing an optimum synthesis temperature of 750°C. The bamboo like structure were obviously found at higher synthesis temperature 800°C-850°C while there were few CNTs seen at 900°C.

Synthesis and Characterization of Carbon Nanotubes from Palm Oil by Aerosol-Assisted CVD

This paper will report on the synthesis of bundles of aligned single wall carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) and multiwall carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) from palm oil precursor and ferrocene as catalyst source by two stage aerosol-assisted CVD system at various deposition temperature ranging from 700-900oC. Palm oil was pyrolised into the furnace which contained the catalyst source producing black substances at the wall of the reaction furnace which were then collected to be characterized. Field emission scanning electron microscopy equipped with energy dispersive X-ray was used to obtain weight percentage, identification of samples and image of CNTs which showed different structures and diameters of CNTs relative to the deposition temperature of furnace. Raman Spectroscopy was used to further study the quality and identification of samples and finally X-ray powder diffraction was used to determine the crystalinity of samples. Individual micrograph of MWNTs at optimized deposition temperature was also obtained from the high resolution transmission electron microscopy.

Vertically Aligned Carbon Nanotubes from Palm Oil Precursor

This paper reports a study on vertically aligned carbon nanotubes (VACNTs) synthesized by thermal chemical vapor deposition (TCVD) method using eco-friendly carbon source; palm oil. Palm oil vaporized at 450oC in argon atmosphere at ambient pressure. For better decomposition of palm oil complex structure, ferrocene were added into palm oil and stirred for 20 minutes prior to synthesis process. The synthesis and annealing duration took 30 and 10 minutes respectively. The field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM) and infrared spectroscopy analysis were systematically studied on CNTs produced. The detailed of CNTs properties will be discussed further.

Surface Morphology and Compositional Analysis of Undoped Amorphous Carbon Thin Films via Bias Assisted Pyrolysis-CVD

Amorphous carbon (a:C) were successfully deposited on the silicon surfaces via bias assisted pyrolysis-CVD in the range between 350oC to 500oC with constant of negative bias -50V in 1 hour deposition. The heated of palm oil at about 150oC was vaporized then used for deposited onto p-type silicon substrates. The deposited thin films were characterized by using field emission scanning electron microscopic (FESEM), energy dispersive analyser x-ray (EDAX). We have found carbon element at about 0.15 keV from EDAX with surface morphology formed a nano-ball like structure at 450oC of palm oil precursor. These results indicated deformation of physical and structural thin films caused by applied negative bias and the temperature.

Synthesis of Carbon Nanotubes from Palm Oil Precursor by Aerosol-Assisted Catalytic CVD Method

Carbon nanotubes were produced from the aerosol-assisted catalytic CVD method using palm oil as the precursor and ferrocene as the catalyst. The CNTs were yielded at optimized temperature of 700oC and the Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscope showed the image of CNTs produced. Raman Spectroscopy, energy dispersive X-ray and Thermogravimetric Analysis were then used to further study the Raman Spectra, purity and identification of samples.

Preparation of Palm Oil Based Carbon Nanotubes at Various Ferrocene Concentration

In this work, different ferrocene concentration (1.0-8.0 wt%) of bio-hydrocarbon palm oil precursor were utilized to investigate its effect on the characteristics of the produced carbon nanotubes (CNT). The palm oil-ferrocene mixture was vaporized at 450°C and pyrolyzed at 800°C for 30 min time in argon ambient. The CNT were analyzed using field emission scanning electron microscopy, scanning transmission electron microscopy, fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and thermogravimetric analysis. The analysis confirmed different diameter and morphologies of CNT were formed when different ferrocene concentration were used. FTIR spectra show the prominent peak at ~1445, 1736, 2851 and 2925 cm-1that are identified as CNT and C–Hxrespectively.

Temperature Effects on the Production of Carbon Nanotubes from Palm Oil by Thermal Chemical Vapor Deposition Method

In this study we report the effect of various synthesis temperatures of 600 - 1000°C for the synthesis of carbon nanotubes (CNT). Bio-hydrocarbon precursor namely palm oil was utilized as a starting material by thermal vapor deposition method. Ferrocene at 5.33 wt% was directly mixed with palm oil precursor for 30 mins synthesis time. The prepared CNT was collected from the furnace wall and then characterized by field emission scanning electron microscopy, scanning transmission electron microscopy, fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and thermogravimetric analysis. The density, diameter and the purities of the CNT were found to be highly dependent on the temperature changes. The synthesis temperature of 800°C was considered to be the optimum temperature for higher quality and quantity of CNT production.