Published date: Apr 16 2019

Journal Title: KnE Engineering

Issue title: International Conference on Basic Sciences and Its Applications (ICBSA-2018)

Pages: 323–328

DOI: 10.18502/keg.v1i2.4456

Weni Yulistia

Muldarisnur .

Carbon nanotubes (CNT) have been intensively investigated due to their superior electrical, thermal, and mechanical properties. In this work, CNT were synthesized using a relatively simple method that is catalytic graphitization. Catalytic graphitization was performed using bacterial cellulose as precursor, iron (III) chloride hexahydrate (FeCl3 ·6H2O) as catalyst and chitosan as coupling agent and dispersant. Bacterial cellulose (cellulose source) was obtained by fermenting medium using acetobacter xylinum. Prior to usage, bacterial cellulose was chemically treated by soaking in a 0.5% chitosan solution for 2 hours at room temperature, followed by soaking in a 0,1 M catalyst solution at a temperature of 60 ∘C for 24 hours. The previous work did not variate the graphitization temperature, so in this work graphitization was conducted in a furnace under the flow of inert nitrogen gas atmosphere at 600 ∘C, 750 ∘C, 900 ∘C, and 1000 ∘C for 2 hours. CNT samples were characterized using Electron Dispersive Spectroscopy (EDS), Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM) and LCR meter. The results indicate that the optimum catalytic graphitization temperature of CNT is 1000 ∘C which creates a bamboo-like CNT structure. It was also found that the electrical conductivity depends linearly on graphitization temperature. The highest electrical conductivity of 7.41x104 S/m is obtained for CNT sample synthesized at 1000 ∘C.

Keywords: Carbon nanotube, Catalytic graphitization, Bacterial cellulose, Chitosan, Electric conductivity

[1] Bystrov, V., Kopyl, S., Maiorov, M., Valente, M., Bdikin, I. dan Sousa, A.C.M., Carbon Nanotube with Magnetic Particles, International Journal of Chemical, Molecular Nuclear, Materials and Metallurgical Engineering, Vol. 6, No. 7, page 547-552, 2012.


[2] Noor, F.A., Zaenufar, L.L., Yulkifli, Abdullah, M., Sukirno, dan Khairurrijal, Kajian Pembuatan Nanotube Karbon dengan Menggunakan Metode Spray Pyrolysis, Jurnal Nanosains dan Nanoteknologi, Vol. 2, No. 1, page 16-20, 2008.


[3] Chaldun, E.R., Karina, M. dan Purwasamita, B.S., Synthesis and Characterization of Bacterial Cellulose-based Carbon Nanotube by Catalytic Graphitization, Advanced Materials Research, Vol. 789, page 232-236, 2013.


[4] Oya, A. dan Marsh, H., Review Phenomena of Catalytic Graphitization, Journal of Materials Science, Vol. 17, No. 2, page 309-322, 1982.


[5] Bielecki, S., Krystynowicz, A., Turkiewicz, M. dan Kalinowska, H., Bacterial Cellulose, Vandamme, E.J., De Baets, S., Steinbüchel, A. (Eds.), Biopolymers Online, Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim, Germany, 2005.


[6] Nuraningsih. dan Murwani, I.K., Aktivitas dan Selektivitas Katalis FeCl3 , Al2O3 , dan FeCl3 /Al2O3 Pada Reaksi Asilasi Fenol, Akta Kimia Indonesia, Vol. 3, No. 1, page 49-54, 2007.


[7] Li, W.Z., Wen, J.G. dan Ren, Z.F., Effect of Temperature on Growth and Structure of Carbon Nanotubes by Chemical Vapour Deposition, Applied Physics A. Materials Science and Processing, Vol. 74, page 397-402, 2002.