It is demonstrated that carbon nanotubes (CNTs) can be synthetized on the surface of an example carbon background, activated carbon, using the thermal conversion of poly(furfuryl alcohol) (PFA). This newly discovered CNTs synthesis method is an alternative solution to previously known methods, e.g., chemical vapor deposition, arc discharge, and laser ablation. Scanning electron microscopy and high-resolution transmission electron microscopy images deliver direct evidence of CNT formation through the thermal degradation of PFA in a temperature range of 500-700 °C. The discovered process consists of the free growth of CNTs from PFA without any mechanical patterning, casting, or molding. CNTs obtained in this manner resemble MWCNTs in size, though according to microscopic investigation the tubes do not possess the well-developed layered structure of MWCNTs. Nonetheless, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and Raman spectroscopy studies fully confirm that carbon (C) is the main elemental constituent of the tubes (C atomic content above 85%) and C atoms are structured in a manner typical of defected CNTs (D, G, and G' intensity ratios).
Keywords: carbon nanotubes; hybrid materials; poly(furfuryl alcohol); thermal conversion.
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