Preparation of amorphous carbon nanotubes using attapulgite as template and furfuryl alcohol as carbon source

► Amorphous carbon nanotubes were synthesized by VDP method. ► Amorphous nature of the carbon nanotubes was confirmed by techniques. ► Morphologies and specific surface area of the carbon nanotubes were characterized. ► A hypothesis about the formation mechanism of the carbon nanotubes was proposed.