CVD Synthesis, Functionalization and CO2 Adsorption Attributes of Multiwalled Carbon Nanotubes

Carbon dioxide is one of the major greenhouse gases and a leading source of global warming. Several adsorbent materials are being tested for removal of carbon dioxide (CO2) from the atmosphere. The use of multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) as a CO2 adsorbent material is a relatively new research avenue. In this study, Fe2O3/Al2O3 composite catalyst was used to synthesize MWCNTs by cracking ethylene gas molecules in a fluidized bed chemical vapor deposition (CVD) chamber. These nanotubes were treated with H2SO4/HNO3 solution and functionalized with 3-aminopropyl-triethoxysilane (APTS). Chemical modification of nanotubes removed the endcaps and introduced some functional groups along the sidewalls at defected sites. The functionalization of nanotubes with amine introduced carboxylic groups on the tube surface. These functional groups significantly enhance the surface wettability, hydrophilicity and CO2 adsorption capacity of MWCNTs. The CO2 adsorption capacity of as-grown and amine-functionalized CNTs was computed by generating their breakthrough curves. BELSORP-mini equipment was used to generate CO2 breakthrough curves. The oxidation and functionalization of MWCNTs revealed significant improvement in their adsorption capacity. The highest CO2 adsorption of 129 cm3/g was achieved with amine-functionalized MWCNTs among all the tested samples.