Abstract
Cellulose consists of a linear-chain polymer from 1-4-glucoside bond linked 1,4 carbon of ${\beta}$-D-glucose. Unmodified cellulose does not dissolve in water or in common organic solvents due to the presence of inter- and intra-chain hydrogen bonds. Ionic liquids, particularly, 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium acetate, dissolve cellulose more easily when compared to traditionally used solvents for cellulose because of directly broken of hydrogen bonds in intra and inter molecular. In addition, CNTs can also be easily dispersed in imidazolium-based ionic liquids by simple mechanical mixing. Cellulose hollow fibers filled with MWCNT were used as a precursor for carbon fibers. The cellulose/MWCNT precursor solution in the ionic liquid was prepared by air-gap spinning to improve the carbon yield and also to optimize the mechanical properties of the final cellulose-based carbon fiber. The cellulose/MWCNT hollow fibers was pyrolyzed by heating in air at $350^{\circ}C$ for 1 h 35 min. The pyrolyzed cellulose/MWCNT hollow fibers were carbonized by heating at $900^{\circ}C$ in an inert atmosphere (nitrogen). Thus-prepared cellulose/MWCNT-based carbon hollow fibers were analyzed to confirm the suitability of the carbon hollow fiber as a substitute for silicon wafer in solar cells and in semiconductor devices.