Carbon materials were synthesized by pyrolysis from fibers of Corn-straw (Zea mays), Ricestraw
(Oryza sativa), Jute-straw (Corchorus capsularis) Bamboo (Bombax bambusa), Bagass
(Saccharum officinarum), Cotton (Bombax malabaricum), and Coconut (Cocos nucifera);
these materials were characterized by scanning electron microscope, X-ray diffraction
(XRD), and Raman spectra. All carbon materials are micro sized with large pores or channel
like morphology. The unique complex spongy, porous and channel like structure of Carbon
shows a lot of similarity with the original anatomy of the plant fibers used as precursor. Waxy
contents like tyloses and pits present on fiber tracheids that were seen in the inherent anatomy
disappear after pyrolysis and only the carbon skeleton remained; XRD analysis shows that
carbon shows the development of a (002) plane, with the exception of carbon obtained from
bamboo, which shows a very crystalline character. Raman studies of all carbon materials
showed the presence of G- and D-bands of almost equal intensities, suggesting the presence
of graphitic carbon as well as a disordered graphitic structure. Carbon materials possessing
lesser density, larger surface area, more graphitic with less of an sp3 carbon contribution, and
having pore sizes around 10 μm favor hydrogen adsorption. Carbon materials synthesized
from bagass meet these requirements most effectively, followed by cotton fiber, which was
more effective than the carbon synthesized from the other plant fibers.