Research Article

Synthesis and Characterization of Carbon Nano Kajal

Swapna MS, Pooja V Menon, Anamika S Anand, Soumya S and Sankararaman S*

Department of Optoelectronics, University of Kerala, India

Submission: April 14, 2017; Published: May 30, 2017

*Corresponding author: Sankararaman S, Department of Optoelectronics, University of Kerala, Kariavattom, Kerala, 695581, India, Email: drssraman@gmail.com

How to cite this article: Swapna MS, Pooja V M, Anamika S A, Soumya S, Sankararaman S. Synthesis and Characterization of Carbon Nano Kajal. JOJ Material Sci. 2017; 1(4): 555566. DOI:10.19080/JOJMS.2017.01.555566

Abstract

Carbon nanoparticles are of considerable interest today because of their unique physical and biological properties. There are several methods of preparation of Carbon Nanoparticles (CNP) with high efficacy and low toxicity. In this paper we describe a simple low cost synthesis of carbon nanoparticle. We present a simple method for the synthesis of carbon nanoparticles from the controlled combustion of coconut oil and ghee. The antibacterial property of CNP enables its use in kajals. The FESEM image of the sample prepared exhibit carbon nanoparticles of size less than 50nm

Introduction

Nowadays carbon based nanoparticles have gained great attention in many research areas because of their unique physical and chemical properties. Various carbon-derived nano materials such as fullerenes, carbon nano tubes (CNTs), graphitic nano fibers (GNFs), graphene etc. exhibit remarkable optical and electronic properties, which have been exploited for various applications such as optoelectronics, chemical sensing, biological labeling, etc. [1]. Nanoparticles with dimensions ranging from 1-100nm exhibit interesting physical and chemical properties. Nanoparticles are found in amorphous or crystalline form. The nanoparticles have become most suitable in the field of medicine because biological processes also occur in the nano scale. Carbon is one of the most abundant elements in nature. When the size of carbon particles decreases into nano scale range the antibacterial action increases. This is due to their large surface area and the presence of large number of atoms near the surface [2]. It has been found that carbon nanoparticles damage the membranes in bacteria due to an oxidative stress [3,4]. In this work we synthesized carbon nanoparticles in a simple method by the incomplete combustion of coconut oil. We collected the nanoparticles in a glass plate. The prepared carbon nanoparticles are used for making kajals.

The use of nanoparticles in cosmetics is not new. Black soot and mineral powders have been used as cosmetics since thousands of years ago in ancient India and Egypt. The properties of nanoparticles such as high penetration into skins, antibacterial action, optical properties make them suitable for cosmetic industry. In this paper we have made an attempt to synthesize carbon nanoparticles that can be used for making kajals to give protection to eyes. Here we prepared CNP by collecting soot particles at a height formed during the incomplete combustion of coconut oil. The kajals available in the market nowadays contains harmful chemicals that cause irritation to our eyes. We propose a new kajal incorporated with carbon nanoparticles named as nano-kajal that has no side effects or irritation to our eyes.

Hydrocarbons are organic compounds consisting of carbon and hydrogen elements only. At present, a lot of hydrocarbons are used as precursors in several methods of preparation of nanoparticles. Simplest form of hydrocarbons, i.e. saturated hydrocarbons contains only single bonds. The unsaturated forms of them have double or triple bonds in their structure and aromatic hydrocarbons have at least one aromatic ring [5,6].

Combustion, also known as burning, is the basic chemical process of releasing energy from a fuel and air mixture. This combustion method belongs to the class of bottom-up method of nanoparticle synthesis, where we require a combustion chamber of high temperature and pressure.

Materials and Methods

The carbon nanoparticles are synthesized from the incomplete combustion of coconut oil and ghee. A glass plate cleaned with acetone is used for depositing CNP. Cotton wick is used to make the flame. The carbon particles are collected on a glass plate placed at a distance of 50cm from the lamp wick. The experimental setup is shown in (Figure 1). The soot particles collected on the glass plate were analyzed by FESEM. In order to understand the morphology of CNP thus formed from various oils we conducted the study with ghee. The CNPs formed from coconut oil and ghee under identical condition are studied. The soot is purified by liquid phase oxidation method using a mixture of H₂SO₄ and HNO₃. Then it is quenched with ice cooled water and base neutralized by NaOH [7].

Results and Discussion

FESEM and EDS analysis

Carbon nanoparticles are prepared from soot particle formed by the incomplete combustion of coconut oil and ghee are subjected to morphological characterization by Nova Nano Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscopy (FESEM). Scanning electron microscopy is used to analyze the morphology of the carbon nanoparticles and is shown in (Figure 2 & 3). The FESEM image shows CNP of average size less than 50nm. The Energy Dispersive Spectra of the diesel soot particles are taken, to obtain the elemental compositions.

The particles formed are polygonal in shape. Under identical conditions we could reproduce CNPs of identical shape and size. The SEM image shows uniform particle size and distribution of carbon nanoparticles. The SEM image of the carbon particles obtained from ghee was comparatively bigger (~150nm).

UV-visible spectroscopy

The UV-Visible spectrum of the sample is recorded using Jasco V 550 UV-Visible spectrophotometer and is shown in (Figure 4). The spectrum shows a peak at 247nm that arises from the п-п* transition of C-C and C=C bonds in sp² hybrid region. The peaks at 278m -290nm region is due to n-π* transition of the C=O bond of the sp³ hybrid region [8]. These features indicate Single walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) in the samp.

Conclusion

In the present work we describe the synthesis of carbon nanoparticles from the controlled combustion of coconut oil and ghee. The antibacterial property of CNP enables its use in kajals that were well understood by ancestors. The traditional method could give good quality CNPs when collected at a height of 50cm. The UV- Visible spectrum reveals the possibility of single walled carbon nano tubes (SWCNTs) that can be used as a low cost material for potential applications in fuel cell, carbon nano capacitors etc.

References

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