Synthesis and Characterization of Bacterial Cellulose-Based Carbon Nanotube by Catalytic Graphitization

Bacterial cellulose-based carbon nanotube has been synthesized by catalytic graphitization method. Bacterial cellulose (BS) is a source of cellulose produced from fermentation of medium by Acetobacter xylinum. Since it contains unbranch polymer linked by β-1.4 glucopyronose with hydroxil groups, BS is able to use as precursor in synthesis of carbon nanotube. Due to catalytic graphitization, chitosan served as coupling agent and dispersant of catalyst and various concentration of catalyst FeCl3.6H2O also were used. Graphitization was conducted in furnace with inert nitrogen gas atmosphere at 800°C for 2 hours. SEM-EDS were used to evaluate the morphology and semi-quantitative analysis of sample. TEM was used to determine the microstructures and crystallographic. When the chitosan was added 0.5%, its served as coupling agent and dispersant of catalyst with BS. Chitosan improved physical properties, relieved its brittleness, and caused the optical properties of BS. Catalyst of FeCl3.6H2O was used to assist the formation and growth of carbon nanotube. The amount of carbon was not affected by time aging. 0.1 M FeCl3.6H2O was the optimum concentration to produce carbon nanotube with 81, 58% the mass of carbon, plane orientation (002) (100) and the diameter of carbon nanotube is 25 nm.