Abstract:
In this study, production of carbon nano-spheres (CNSs) was conducted by the decomposition of
botanical hydrocarbons, known as turpentine oil (C10H16) using activated carbon as a substrate. The
oil decomposition was carried out by nebulized spray pyrolysis method operated at temperature of
700 degree C for 30 minutes of deposition time by varying the concentration of ferrocene catalyst dissolved
in the oil i.e., 0.015, 0.02, and 0.025 g/ml. The carbon products were characterized by Scanning
Electron Microscopy (SEM), Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM), Raman spectroscopy and
X-ray Diffraction (XRD), respectively. The SEM observations showed that the as grown carbon
materials were formed as agglomerated CNSs. The TEM results showed that the highest concentration
of ferrocene favors the formation of carbon nanotubes (CNTs). Raman analysis revealed that
the intensity ratio between disorder and graphite like structure (ID/IG) was in the range 0.87–0.93.
On the other hand, XRD results showed that the as grown product contains no metal catalyst
contaminants.
