Carbon nanotubes were prepared along the gravity direction in a spray pyrolysis setup over the silica
supported Fe-Co-Ni catalyst. The silica supported Fe-Co-Ni catalyst coated by jet nebulized spray
pyrolysis method over copper strip was inverted to face downward, so that carbon nanotubes can be
prepared along the direction of gravity. From the point of view of green chemistry, instead of commonly
used hydrocarbons, a plant based natural precursor, pine oil is used as carbon precursor for preparation
of carbon nanotubes. The effect of temperature on yield and morphology of carbon nanotubes grown
along gravity was studied. The yield of carbon nanotubes was calculated as mass percentage of catalyst
and support. The carbon nanotubes were characterized using XRD, SEM, Raman and TGA techniques.
The carbon deposit obtained at 650 ºC contains multi-walled carbon nanotubes in larger quantity with
very less amorphous carbon. A narrow, lengthy and well graphitized multi-walled carbon nanotubes
were formed when the carbon nanotubes grow along the gravity.
GROWTH OF MULTI-WALLED CARBON NANOTUBES ALONG WITH GRAVITY BY SPRAY PYROLYSIS OF NATURAL PRECURSOR
