Synthesis and characterization of carbon nanospheres from hydrocarbon soot

Abstract

Foreseeing the upcoming era of the carbon nanomaterials and their revolutionary applications, we have identified and explored the structural parameters of five effective precursors of the same -carbon black, soot obtained by the thermal decomposition of kerosene, diesel, paraffin wax and lubricant oil. Micro- Raman spectroscopy, Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FT-IR), X-ray diffraction (XRD), Scanning Electron Microscopy, Electron dispersive spectroscopy (EDS) and elemental analysis are employed for the structural and morphological characterization of the nanomaterials formed. The average lateral size (La), stacking height (Lc) and interlayer spacing (d002) of the crystallite structures calculated from the X-ray intensities are found to be ranging from 4.3-5.9 nm, 0.63-2.40 nm and 3.10- 3.68 Å respectively. La values determined by Raman and XRD analysis are in very good agreement thereby reinforcing the nanocrystalline structure of the samples. The very low I20/I26 ratio obtained reveals a relatively low amount of disorder in the nanostructures. Nanomaterials formed have the morphology of non-uniform nanospheres with diameter varying between 26-100 nm. EDS and elemental analysis confirms the absence of metal impurities. FTIR spectra of the samples shows the presence of stretching vibrations of –OH bonds, aliphatic –CH, –CH2 and –CH3 absorptions, C=C and –CH absorptions of aromatic structures.