Green synthesis of carbon nanotubes

Carbon nanotube, the one-atom thick graphene sheet rolled up into cylindrical form has been considered as an innovative material with fascinating properties. General methods adopted for the synthesis of carbon nanotube include the carbon arc-discharge, chemical vapor deposition often abbreviated as CVD, and laser ablation method, etc. By considering the environmental issues, for all the synthetic chemistry researchers, there is an urge to shift toward the greener routes and so is with the synthesis of CNTs. Natural resources and some waste materials are found to be suitable as good source of carbon. This chapter spotlights on the green synthetic aspects of CNT from various sustainable starting points like plant resources, waste materials, and various green catalytic methods. At the end of the chapter, a brief discussion is made on the various characterization techniques adopted for the characterization of CNT obtained through green synthesis.