A 2024 Scientific Reports study placed untreated yellow corn seeds in ultra-high-purity hydrogen and annealed them at high temperature, producing multi-wall carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) preferentially on the outer corn shell.
Ten seeds, 2.94 g, 1050°C for three hours
After a one-hour argon flush, hydrogen flowed at 0.2 L/min while the furnace heated at 15°C/min to 1050°C and held for three hours. No external metal catalyst or chemical pretreatment was used.
SEM, TEM, Raman and XRD showed CNTs growing over graphitic nanosheets, with strong growth at the corn-shell surface.
BET surface area reached 710 m²/g
The 1050°C material had a BET specific surface area of 710 m²/g and multi-wall tubular carbon structures.
“Green” does not mean low-energy by default
Avoiding added metal catalysts and acid washing simplifies the process, but 1050°C heating for three hours under ultra-high-purity hydrogen is energy- and gas-intensive. The paper does not provide a life-cycle carbon comparison, hydrogen-source analysis or scale-up economics.
A separate 2022 paper on CNT-based plant delivery is an application example, not the source paper for this corn-to-CNT synthesis.
For related context, see Aloe-Vera-Assisted NiO Nanoparticles Delivered 239 F/g in a Symmetric Supercapacitor.
For related context, see 3D-Printing Wood from Lignin and Cellulose: 200-µm DIW and Hot-Pressed Flexural Performance Beyond Balsa.
For related context, see Using Amino Acid Transporters as Nanoparticle Entry Receptors: Asp/PDPA-NP Delivers Cargo into Plant Cells Within Minutes.
Reference
- El-Sayed A et al. Efficient eco-friendly synthesis of carbon nanotubes over graphite nanosheets from yellow corn: a one-step green approach. Scientific Reports. 2024;14:15415. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-024-65893-6
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