CONVERSION OF REDUCED GRAPHENE OXIDE INTO MULTI-WALLED CARBON NANOTUBES

Abstract

We report the green, simple microwave-assisted approach for catalytic conversion of reduced graphene oxide(rGO) into multi-walled carbon nanotubes(MWCNTs) in presence of conducting polymer poly aniline(PANI) and Indium tin oxide(ITO) powder as catalytic agent. Rod like MWCNTs with inner hollow bamboo-shaped structures were obtained. The observed MWCNTs have length 6025 nm and outer diameter 150nm. The UV-Visible absorption spectrum of MWCNTs shows bands at 236 and 254nm which results from the π-plasmon excitation. In photoluminescence(PL) spectra , MWCNTs shows emission bands at 439 and 659nm when excited at 325nm. Infra-red spectroscopy and electrochemical studies were performed for the MWCNTs. The morphology of the MWCNTs were characterized by using X-ray diffraction(XRD), Scanning Electron Microscope(SEM) and Transmission Electron Microscope(TEM) techniques.