Synthesis of carbon nanotubes by arc discharge in open air

In this work Carbon nanotubes have been synthesized by arc discharge in open air. A TIG welding ac/dc inverter was used as the power source for arc discharge. During each run of the arc discharge based synthesis, the anode was a low purity (approximately 85% C by weight) graphite rod. The effect of varying the atmosphere on the yield of soot of the carbon nanotube containing carbon soot has been studied. Various soots were produced, purified by oxidation and characterized to confirm formation of carbon nanotubes and their relative quality, using transmission electron microscopy, Raman spectroscopy, and XRD. It was found that the yield of soot formed on the cathode is higher when synthesis is carried out in open air than when carried out in a flowing argon atmosphere. When synthesized in open air, using a 7.2-mm-diameter graphite rod as anode, the yield of soot was around 50% by weight of the graphite consumed. Current and voltage for arcing were at identical starting values in all the experiments. This modified method does not require a controlled atmosphere as in the case of a conventional arc discharge method of synthesis and hence the cost of production may be reduced.     

Protecting the anode foil of a high-current electron accelerator against arc-discharge damage

The mechanism of anode foil damage during the extraction of a high-power pulsed electron beam from a high-current diode has been experimentally studied on a TEU-500 electron accelerator [1]. It is established that the breakage of the anode foil is caused by the appearance of cathode spots on its surface, the intense electron emission from these spots during positive voltage pulses (postpulses following the main negative pulse of accelerating voltage), and the formation of arc discharge in the interelectrode gap. The improvement of diode matching to the pulse-forming line of the accelerator and the use of an auxiliary electrode (anode) forming additional vacuum discharge gap (crowbar) with the cathode practically excludes the anode foil breakage by arc discharge and significantly increases the working life of the foil (up to ∼10⁵ electron beam pulses).     

Experimental study of the transition to high-current regime of discharge with a hollow self-heated titanium cathode in nitrogen

It is established that rapid formation of a nitride layer on the surface of a self-heated hollow titanium cathode in arc discharge in nitrogen leads to an increase in the thermal stability and emissive properties of the cathode. Optimum regimes of cathode training that ensures rapid Ti → TiN transition over the entire cathode wall thickness in the active zone are determined, which allows the operation temperature to be increased above 2200 K at a discharge current of up to 50 A for the cathode with an inner diameter of 8 mm and a wall thickness of 1 mm. Results of measurements of the current-voltage characteristics of discharge, thermal regimes of operation, and chemical composition of the cathode are presented. The rates of erosion of the cathode operating in nitrogen and argon have been determined.     

Products on electrodes in an argon-methane magnetically rotating arc at atmospheric pressure

The arc discharge method in a hydrocarbon atmosphere has a promising application in the nanocarbon synthesis field due to its high yield. In this paper, products on electrodes in an argon-methane magnetically rotating arc at atmospheric pressure are investigated. Different nanocarbons are obtained on the cathode and anode surfaces, respectively. Material analysis indicates that the products on the cathode are mainly carbon tubes. Some carbon tubes are well-aligned in one direction, and the others have a coil-like structure. The products on the anode are a mixture of graphene nano-flakes and aggregate hollow carbon particles. The hollow carbon particles exhibit a chain-like structure with internal space to be connected. To the authors’ knowledge, this is possibly the first time that aggregate hollow carbon particles with a chain-like structure have been observed in the absence of any catalyst. Based on the configuration of arc plasma, the formation mechanism of electrode products is briefly proposed.     

Runaway electron beam generation by a plasma cathode in atmospheric air discharge

Electron beam generation in atmospheric air discharge with a flat cathode has been experimentally studied. The discharge was excited by voltage pulses of negative polarity with an amplitude of 220 kV, a full width at half maximum of 2 ns, and a leading front width of 0.7 ns. The electron beam was monitored using luminescence of a layer of ZnS-CdS:Ag phosphor placed behind a 20-μm-thick foil anode. It was found that the intensity and homogeneity of luminescence of the phosphor layer increased when a dielectric tube with a length smaller than half of the interelectrode distance was placed in the near-cathode part of the air gap. It is concluded that a plasma cathode is formed within the volume confined by the tube and electrons emitted from this region are accelerated in the open part of the gap. In addition, the dielectric tube decreases the divergence of the electron beam.     

由二种烟煤制备碳纳米管的探索性研究

以一种中国烟煤和一种新西兰烟煤为原料,采用电孤等离子体法制备碳纳米管。碳纳米管及其副产物富勒烯烟灰的表征采用扫描电镜（SEM）和红外光谱（FT－IR）等技术。结果表明：电弧放电时的缓冲气体压力对碳纳米管的产率影响很大;在一定的缓冲气压下电极间电流和电极间距各存在一最佳值。在He气压力为0.0665MPa、工作电流为40A条件下进行电弧放电,阴极上棒状沉积物的内芯中碳纳米管含量高达75％以上。基于实验结果,讨论了以煤为原料用电弧等离子体法制备碳纳米管过程中的工艺参数对碳纳米管生长的影响。     

Using open atmospheric electric discharge for water purification from surface contamination with oil products

The characteristics of open atmospheric dc discharge between a liquid nonmetal cathode (tap water layer) and a metal anode have been studied. The effect of discharge on a layer of oil products (diesel fuel, lubricant oils) contaminating the liquid cathode surface was determined. The discharge current-voltage characteristics and the dependence of the cathode current density on the discharge current I were measured in the interval 20 mA ≤ I ≤ 300 mA for the discharge gap width varied within h = 2–10 mm. For h ≥ 4 mm and I ≥ 120 mA, the cathode current density and the interelectrode voltage are independent of the discharge current, which is characteristic of the normal glow discharge. Under the action of discharge, oil products in the contamination layer on the liquid cathode surface are partly decomposed and partly converted, after which the conversion products can be readily removed from the surface by mechanical methods. The efficiency of contaminant removal can reach 98%. Analysis of the conversion products showed that they are composed of polymer chains with variable length and structure involving oxygen-containing groups.     

Potential barrier decrease at cathode boundary under high-voltage gas-discharge conditions

The influence of atoms, molecules, or layers adsorbed on the cathode surface on the initiation of high-voltage gas discharge is considered. It is shown that the presence of island films of an adsorbate leads to an increase in the field-induced electron emission current that initiates breakdown of the gas-filled interelectrode gap. The formation of a continuous adsorbed film on the cathode accounts for the subsequent weak dependence of the emission characteristics in high-voltage (in particular, picosecond pulsed) discharge on the gas phase composition.     

Stable homogeneous microdischarge at atmospheric pressure between a flat cathode and point anode

Conditions of stable operation of a homogeneous glow microdischarge in air at atmospheric pressure between a flat cathode and point anode are established and realized at interelectrode gap widths within ～1–30 μm and discharge currents within from ～10^?4 to 1 A.     

The role of fast electrons in the formation of a pulsed volume discharge at elevated gas pressures

A volume electric gas discharge was obtained using a pulsed inhomogeneous electric field without a preionization source in various gases (nitrogen, air, helium, neon, argon, krypton) at elevated pressures. In air at atmospheric pressure and nanosecond voltage pulses, the specific energy deposited in the gas amounted up to ∼1 J/cm³. The mechanism of the volume discharge formation is related to the appearance of fast (keV-energy) electrons emitted from plasma formations at the cathode. Fast electrons provide for the effective preionization of the gas in the interelectrode space and favor the formation of volume discharge. Under these conditions, the maximum voltage drop across the discharge gap is achieved in the quasi-stationary stage of discharge.     

Modulation of field emission properties of znO nanorods during arc discharge

Zinc oxide (ZnO) nanorods have been synthesized via the arc discharge method. Different oxygen partial pressures were applied in the arc discharge chamber to modulate the field emission properties of the as-synthesized ZnO nanorods. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) was carried out to analyze the morphology of the ZnO nanorods. The ion beam analysis technique of proton induced X-ray emission (PIXE) was performed to probe the impurities in ZnO nanorods. SEM images clearly revealed the formation of randomly oriented ZnO nanorods with diameters between 10-50 nm. It was found that the morphology and the electrical properties of the ZnO nanorods were dependent on the oxygen partial pressure during arc discharge. In addition enhanced UV-sensitive photoconductivity was found for ZnO nanorods synthesized at high oxygen partial pressure during arc discharge. The field emission properties of the nanorods were studied. The turn-on field, which is defined at a current density of 10 microA cm(-2), was about 3 V microm(-1) for ZnO nanorods synthesized at 99% oxygen partial pressure during arc discharge. The turn-on field for ZnO nanorods increased with the decrease of oxygen partial pressure during arc discharge. The simplicity of the synthesis route coupled with the modulation of field emission properties due to the arc discharge method make the ZnO nanorods a promising candidate for a low cost and compact cold cathode material.     

The process of commutation of small vacuum gaps with initiation by an electric spark plasma and laser plasma

For a vacuum spark gap with initiation by an electric spark plasma, the limited possibilities of controlling the delay time of switching by varying the energy of the auxiliary discharge are demonstrated. For a vacuum spark gap with initiation by a laser plasma, the threshold value of the radiation energy is detected at which the change in character of the dependence of the recorded temporal parameters of switching on the radiation energy takes place. The threshold energy of radiation is determined by the thermodynamic parameters of the cathode material. Based on the experimental data, an assumption is proposed: under the action of a laser radiation pulse in the interelectrode space, glow discharge is initially ignited in the the electrode erosion products, which then as a result of the development of ionization-overheating instability, undergoes a contraction of the current channel and switches to an arc discharge.     

Carbon arc plasma as a source of nanotubes: emission spectroscopy and formation mechanism

Diagnostics of carbon arc plasma by optical emission spectroscopy during the synthesis of carbon nanotubes is reviewed. Spatial distributions of temperature and C2 radicals in different plasmas are presented. The influence of gas pressure, anode composition, and reaction environment is discussed. Mechanisms of carbon nanotube formation are reviewed, with an emphasis on surface diffusion processes and catalytic effects.     

Multi-walled carbon nanotubes grow under low pressure hydrogen,air, and argon ambient by arc discharge plasma

Multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) were grown on cathode deposit by arc discharge plasma under H₂, Ar, and air ambient environment. The influence of ambient gas pressure on the structure and physical properties of carbon nanotube were compared. Herein, we highlight the influence of ambient environment and pressure to grow high quality carbon nanotubes. Field emission scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, Raman spectroscopy, and X-ray diffraction were used for structural characterization and yield determination. The result revealed that background gas and pressure were crucial factor for growing highly crystalline and highly graphitic with I_D/I_G ratio 0.237 obtained for MWCNTs' synthesized in H₂ environment with extreme low defects.     

An atmospheric pressure glow discharge optical emission source for the direct sampling of liquid media

A glow discharge optical emission spectroscopy (GD-OES) source that operates at atmospheric pressure is described. This device utilizes an electrolytic solution containing the analyte specimen as one of the discharge electrodes. The passage of electrical current (either electrons or positive ions) across the solution/gas phase interface causes local heating and the volatilization of the analyte species. Collisions in the discharge region immediately above the solution surface result in optical emission that is characteristic of the analyte elements. Operation of this device with the analyte solution acting as either the cathode or anode is demonstrated. Current-voltage (i-V) plots reveal abnormal glow discharge characteristics, with operating parameters being dependent on the electrolyte concentration (i.e., solution conductivity) and the gap between the solution surface and the counterelectrode. Typical conditions include discharge currents of 30-60 mA, and potentials of 500-900 V. Electrolyte solutions having pH, pNa, or pLi values of 0.5-2 and interelectrode gaps of 0.5-3 mm produce stable plasmas in which the analyte solutions flow at rates of up to 3.0 mL/min. Preliminary limits of detection are determined for the elements Na, Fe, and Pb to be in the range of 11-14 ppm (approximately 60 ng) for 5-microL sample volumes.     

Automatic Production of Fullerenes by A JxB ARC Jet Discharge Preventing Carbon Vapor from Depositing on the Cathode

Deposition of carbon atoms on a cathode in a DC arc discharge to produce fullerenes is reduced by JxB force of a magnetic field in an arc flame. By this modification, more effective synthesis of fullerenes and easier control of discharge conditions are achieved.     

阴极弧斑放电的机理分析

介绍了阴极弧斑放电的基本特征。参考前人的研究模型和最新的实验结果,系统地分析了阴极弧斑放电的机理和过程：电子的爆裂发射模型;热场致发射理论;阴极电位降区满足的Ｍａｃｋｅｏｗｎ 公式;阴极弧斑在磁场中的运动机理。最后讨论了气压对弧斑运动的影响,解释了阳极弧斑放电特征。     

Electric field-oriented growth of carbon nanotubes and Y-branches in a needle-pulsed arc discharge unit: mechanism of the production

Carbon nano-onions, multiwall carbon nanotubes and Y-branched nanotubes are synthesised in a simple production apparatus. A pulsed plasma is generated by discharging a high voltage needle pulse between two graphite electrodes. A strong electric field is presented along anode and cathode electrodes. The pulse width is 0.3 μs. Acetone vapour, as a precursor, is introduced to the plasma through a graphite nozzle in the cathode assembly. A magnetic field, perpendicular to the plasma path, is provided. The possibility of carbon nanotube production through a short-pulsed arc discharge technique is investigated in this article. The results show that adding an electric field between electrodes prevents carbon ions’ dispersion, facilitates charge transferring between ions and electrodes, orients the growth of carbon nanotubes along the applied electric field and finally makes it possible to produce functionalised carbon nanoparticles such as Y-branch nanotubes and nanoknees. In this work, the growth mechanism of carbon nanotubes in a needle-pulsed arc-discharge reactor is discussed. And a possible explanation is provided for the synthesis of Y-branch carbon nanotubes. The products are examined by using scanning probe microscopy technique.     

STM observation of asymmetrical Y-branched carbon nanotubes and nano-knees produced by the arc discharge method

The scanning tunneling microscopy (STM) observation of arc-grown Y-branched carbon nanotubes and sharp nanotube bends (nano-knees) is reported. A drilled out graphite rod filled with a nickel/yttrium particle mixture was used as the anode in an arc chamber under He atmosphere of 660-mbar pressure. Straight multi-wall nanotubes, Y-branches and nano-knees were found in a sample taken from the cathodic deposit. The asymmetrical Y-branches and complex nano-knees found in this experiment may be related to the additional use of metals or/and to induced changes of the temperature distribution on the cathode side. It is suggested that complex nano-knees could be new examples for carbon quantum dots.     

Multiple Arc Contraction in the Anode Region

Magnetogasdynamic equations are used to calculate the characteristics of an open high-current arc burning between a tapered cathode and a flat anode in argon at atmospheric pressure for different values of current strength and interelectrode spacing. The possibility is established of splitting the arc in the anode region into current-conducting channels with contracted connections to the electrode surface. The calculation results are qualitatively consistent with the experimental data.