Formation of nanostructured graphitic carbon from coconut waste via low-temperature catalytic graphitisation

We report a simple and relatively low-temperature method for producing graphitic carbon from renewable and abundant coconut coir. This study also aims to promote the utilisation and conversion of locally sourced coconut coir waste into value-added materials. We obtained amorphous charcoal by carbonising coconut coir and transforming it into graphitic carbon using a Ni-based catalyst at 1300 degrees C for 3 h. The HR-TEM, XPS, XRD and Raman spectroscopy results confirmed the structural transformation from amorphous to graphitic nanostructure. The formation of graphitic layers is observed in the form of well-defined lattice fringes that are separated by an interplanar distance of 0.3367 nm around Ni. Graphitic carbon has a high graphitisation degree of 84.88%, which is slightly lower than that of commercial graphite (90.23%). This structural change enhances the electrical conductivity of powder carbon from 14.97 to 25.75 S/cm under 741 kPa of pressure. Producing graphitic and conductive carbon from renewable coconut coir can alleviate the environmental burden of coconut waste. (C) 2020 Karabuk University. Publishing services by Elsevier B.V.

Automated summary

This study demonstrates a simple method for producing graphitic carbon from coconut coir through carbonization and transformation with a Ni-based catalyst, resulting in high graphitisation degree and electrical conductivity.