Rod-like carbon nanostructures produced by the direct pyrolysis of α-cyclodextrin

Carbon nanostructures were produced by the direct pyrolysis of a cyclic glucose oligosaccharide (α-cyclodextrin) without the use of a metal catalyst. The nanorods evolve from surfaces of structureless carbon when the precursor is carbonized at 1000 °C. The conversion of initially-obtained featureless carbon to the nanostructures can be controlled by the pyrolysis time. The nanorods are of diameters 14–40 nm and consist of multiple disordered curved graphite layers with relatively short persistence lengths.

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► Carbon nanostructures were produced from α-cyclodextrin without the use of a metal catalyst.
► Nanorods evolve from surfaces of structureless carbon when the precursor is carbonized at 1000 °C.
► The conversion to nanostructures can be controlled by varying the duration of pyrolysis.