High-yield synthesis of multi-walled carbon nanotubes from graphite by molten salt electrolysis

This article presents a fundamentally redesigned molten salt electrolytic method of converting graphite directly into MWCNTs. By using optimized process parameters in terms of graphite microstructure, temperature and polarization potential, and by implementing a novel type of process control that changes the polarity of the graphite electrodes during electrolysis, it has become possible to produce gram quantities of a carbonaceous material that contains approximately 70% of MWCNTs in the form of extended agglomerates. The results indicate the true potential of this hitherto underrated method and suggest its suitability for MWCNT production at a larger scale. (C) 2011 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.