Synthesis of carbon nano material from different parts of maize using transition metal catalysts

The waste parts of maize plant (dried stem, mature calyx attached to fruits and hair present on the cob), on pyrolysis using three different nano transition metal catalysts (Ni, Fe and Co) and different temperatures (600, 800 & 10000C) in inert atmosphere; produced different types of Carbon Nano Materials (CNM). The Chemical Vapour Deposition (CVD) technique was used for synthesis of carbon nano materials. The morphology of CNMs was examined by high resolution scanning electron-microscopy (HRSEM), Raman spectroscopy and XRD. When Stem was used as precursor 10000C was found to be the most suitable temperature for producing CNM; which in presence of Ni was like a porous plate and the pores were the source of producing Carbon Nano Beads (CNB). Co was not effective in producing CNM from stem. Calyx also responded better to higher temperature (10000C). In presence of Ni it produced net work of coiled CNTs. Fe was not effective in producing CNM from calyx. Only Ni could produce thin branched Carbon Nano Fibres (CNF) from hair at 10000C. XRD pattern of CNTs and CNB confirmed its graphitic nature. Graphitic peaks were weak in CNF samples. Raman spectrum also confirmed graphitic nature of CNT and CNB. The CNTs also showed peaks designated to multi-walled carbon nanotubes

Author(s): 1Jayashri Shukla, 2N. N. Maldar, 3Maheshwar Sharon, 1Suman Tripathi and 3Madhuri Sharon

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