Obtaining carbon nanotubes from grass

Multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MCNTs) can be obtained by heating grass in the presence of a suitable amount of oxygen. Grass contains a large amount of vascular bundles in the stem and nervation. The major compositions of them are cellulose, hemicellulose and lignin. In the present approach, a rapid heat treatment (at about 600 degrees C) and the participation of oxygen make the vascular bundles become dehydrated and turn into carbon nanotubes. The diameters of the carbon nanotubes obtained are between 30 and 50 nm.