Bio-oil: a versatile precursor to produce carbon nanostructures in liquid phase under mild conditions

Bio-oil can be converted to carbon nanostructures such as graphene, graphite-like structures, nanotubes and closed shell nanoparticles upon reaction with H2SO4 under mild conditions, i.e. 120 degrees C. The formation of these carbon nanostructures is discussed in terms of dehydration, condensation and aromatization processes of the complex bio-oil molecules to form nanographene precursors which in the liquid reaction medium can diffuse and further combine to produce different nanostructures.