Meso Porous 3D Carbon Foam using Multi-Walled Carbon Nanotubes from Methyl Ester of Jatropha Curcas Oil

Abstract

Multi-Walled Carbon Nanotubes (MWNTs) were synthesised from the methyl ester of Jatropha Curcas Oil and grown in Fe, Co, and Mo catalyst assisted on Alumina using the Spray Pyrolysis process at temperatures ranging from 550 to 750 °C in an N2 atmosphere. The effect of temperature on the yield and morphology of MWNTs synthesised from natural oil has revealed that 650 °C appears to be the most optimal temperature for producing high yields of well-graphitized MWNTs. By using resorcinol and formaldehyde as a binder with polyurethane as a sacrificial scaffold by evaporation induced self-assembly (EISA) approach and coal tar pitch based Meso Carbon Micro Beads (MCMB) as a binder by Extrusion– Spheronization process followed by Carbonization, MWNTs/Carbon Composite foam, and MWNTs/Carbon Composite pellets were prepared. Extrusion-Spheronization accompanied by Carbonization is used to make MWNTs/Carbon Composite using microcrystalline cellulose (MCC) as a binder. The micro and mesoporous composition of the MWNTs/Carbon composite foam had a high surface area of 551.21 m2/g, which was verified by N2 adsorption-desorption measurements and mesopore widths ranging from 2 to 50 nm. Micro and mesoporous structures with a high surface area and low density were achieved in MWNTs/Carbon Composite pellets. Pore structure was evident in the MWNTs/Carbon Composite.