Simple synthesis of multiwalled carbon nanotubes from natural resources

Bucket-and-spade chemistry: An environmentally friendly and highly efficient method for growing multiwalled carbon nanotubes (T) on a large scale has been developed which uses naturally abundant resources, namely garnet sand (G) as a catalyst precursor and support, and city gas as the carbon source. The as-produced carbon nanotubes have a well-crystallized wall structure and are easily separated from the garnet sand by sonication.