Synthesis of carbon nanotubes from polymer waste

Abstract

The paper represents investigation on the synthesis of carbon nanotubes by chemical vapor deposition. The products of thermal decomposition of polyethylene waste were used as source of carbon. The influence of the decomposition temperature of polyethylene on the carbon nanotubes synthesis was provided. Cenospheres, preliminarily impregnated with aqueous solutions of nickel and cobalt nitrates, were applied as catalysts for carbon nanotubes synthesis. It was determined that in the framework of research, the best results for CNTs production were achieved at polyethylene decomposition temperature of 450 °C with catalyst based on cenospheres impregnated with nickel and cobalt nitrate solutions.