Rod-like carbon nanostructures produced by the direct pyrolysis of a-cyclodextrin

Carbon nanostructures were produced by the direct pyrolysis of a cyclic glucose oligosaccharide (a-cyclodextrin) without the use of a metal catalyst. The nanorods evolve from surfaces of structureless carbon when the precursor is carbonized at 1000 C. The conversion of initially-obtained featureless carbon to the nanostructures can be controlled by the pyrolysis time. The nanorods are of diameters 14-40 nm and consist of multiple disordered curved graphite layers with relatively short persistence lengths.