Unusual Micro Carbon Rods Formed from PET Plastic via Pyrolysis and Annealing in CO2/He Co-Gas

This study investigates the transformation of activated carbon (AC) powder, derived from polyethylene terephthalate (PET) through pyrolysis, into a specific type short cylindrical carbon. carbon-to-carbon (C-C) was completed by annealing AC powder in co-gas atmosphere He and CO2. produces low-porous, amorphous, micro rods (MCR) micron size. It is suggested that so-far unknown growth mechanism originates oxidation role CO2, initiating curving polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) sheets. step followed layer-by-layer sheet stacking steps to render thick rods. thickness also created simultaneous occurrence rare nanotubes, supposedly formed initially curling small PAH surrounding nanoparticles create tube template for subsequent growth. first example CNT C-C rather than other vapor deposition routes. As main product, MCR amorphous fairly porous, with an average aspect ratio greater 10, which possesses potential applications as mechanical reinforcing or energy-attenuation filler different composites.