Synthesis of Single-Wall Carbon Nanotubes from Diesel Soot

Abstract

We show that diesel soot can be recycled as a carbon source for the synthesis of single-wall carbon nanotubes (SWNTs). The synthesis of SWNTs was carried out by the laser vaporization of diesel soot. The presence of SWNTs was confirmed by Raman spectroscopy and transmission electron microscopy. SWNTs produced in this way should provide economic benefits and also contribute to a cleaner environment.

Carbon nanotubes among diesel exhaust particles: real samples or contaminants?

“…Although it does not contain any 3d transition metal such as Fe, Ni, and Co, known to be important for CNT synthesis (Cheng et al, 1998;Vander Wal et al, 2003), we do not exclude the possibility of metals from lube oil playing a role as catalysts to form nanotubes. It is notable that other researchers have synthesized single-walled CNTs from diesel particles (Uchida et al, 2006). For that work, diesel particles were collected from a genset and a marine diesel.…”

Soluble Graphene Nanosheets for the Sunlight-Induced Photodegradation of the Mixture of Dyes and its Environmental Assessment

“…At present, few groups have explored the recent-promising approaches related to the adaptation of pollutant soot as freely available carbon precursor for the synthesis/isolation of the value-added nano-carbons 21–29 . Such as carbon dots (CD) 23 , graphene nanosheets (GNS) 24,25,27 , single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNT) 26 , carbon nanoparticles 22 used for the diverse applications 22,23,27 including the photodegradation of the pollutant dyes 24,25 . In the same context, the visible-light photocatalysis using the nano-carbons, metal-based carbon nano-materials 30–34 and its composites 31,35–43 has attracted the widespread attention, because of its interesting applicative prospects in the field of the water remediation 40,41,44 .…”

Sustainable Feasibility of the Environmental Pollutant Soot to Few-Layer Photoluminescent Graphene Nanosheets for Multifunctional Applications

“…To prevent its negative impacts, the quantity of BC should be decreased alternatively by its utilization in value-added products. To provide a clean environment along with some economic benefits, waste management of BC and identifying its second-life uses can be a possible approach to the synthesis of well-developed nanocarbons. − Recently, a few groups reported the presence of graphitic nanoparticles in the pollutant waste soot of diesel ,,, and petrol engines, along with the prospects of its application. ,, For example, Uchida et al synthesized single-walled carbon nanotubes from diesel soot using a laser vaporization technique . Tripathi et al used diesel soot for the practical isolation of multiemissive water-soluble carbon dots (wsCD) for multicolored imaging of Escherichia coli and sensing cholesterol.…”

“…Remarkably, Tripathi et al and Wang et al did not synthesize any nanocarbons. In contrast, they synthesized only the soluble version of nanocarbons that was routinely manufactured during the burning process inside the engine chambers and discharged globally into the atmosphere as BC. ,, On the basis of these findings, we need to use these “freely available carbon precursors” − for the isolation of nanocarbons from pollutant soot. A few reports about the structural or nanostructural characterization of pollutant soot are also available. ,, The burning process in a diesel engine is very much similar to the burning of conventional hydrocarbon flames, whereas petrol engines typically need a “spark” for the ignition of fuel, which is premixed with atmospheric air .…”

“…To provide a clean environment along with some economic benefits, waste management of BC and identifying its secondlife uses can be a possible approach to the synthesis of welldeveloped nanocarbons. 5−7 Recently, a few groups reported the presence of graphitic nanoparticles in the pollutant waste soot of diesel 5,6,8,9 and petrol engines, 7 along with the prospects of its application. 5,6,9 For example, Uchida et al synthesized single-walled carbon nanotubes from diesel soot using a laser vaporization technique.…”