Fabrication of tunable carbon micro- and nanotubes using reed as bio-template

Reed bristles (Andropogon virginicus) were used as precursors and bio-templates for tubular carbon synthesis. The carbonization of the bristles was performed at 1200 °C in a double crucible system using charcoal as a reducing agent. Following carbonization, carbon microtubes with outer and inner diameters of 4-8 and 3-7 μm, respectively, were obtained. Moreover, the seeds of reeds demonstrated catalytic activity that led to the formation of multiwalled carbon nanotubes with outer diameters of 10-15 nm. The BET specific surface area of CMTs prepared at 1200 °C calculated using the adsorption data was 145 m2/g. The corresponding pore size evaluated using the HK plot was 0.5-1.5 nm.