Voltage effects on the production of nanocarbons by a unique arc-discharge set-up in solution

Well graphitised nanocarbons including onion-like fullerenes and single- and multi-walled carbon nanotubes (CNTs) were synthesised in high yield by automatic arc-discharge method in solution. This technique is considered a low-cost method since it does not require any expensive equipment. Herein, an arc discharge full automatic set-up was used for fabrication of CNTs which enables controlling of the gap between the two electrodes and the voltage as well. Carbon nanostructures under a controlled amount of voltage (from 10 to 30 V) were synthesised where Ni : Mo as a catalyst and LiCl 0.25 M as a solution were used. Subsequently, a modified acid treatment method was applied as purification stage of the products. The production rate of CNTs was as high as 7.7 mg min^?1 while the voltage was set at 30 V. Scanning electron microscopy and transmission electron microscopy as well as Raman spectroscopy were employed to study the morphology of these carbon nanostructures. The results indicated that CNTs synthesised at a voltage of 30 V had the best quality and elongated straight structures. The mechanism of the voltage conditions for preparing nanocarbons as well as their characterisation are discussed.     

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.     

Amorphous carbon films in direct current magnetron sputtering from regenerative sooting discharge

We present results of carbon coatings on metal substrates in cylindrical hollow cathode (CHC) direct current magnetron sputtering. This is a new technique for making amorphous carbon films by CHC magnetron sputtering from a regenerative sooting discharge. The carbon films are deposited on Cu and Al substrates in a Ne atmosphere and compared with the films of carbon soot on the same materials produced from a conventional 80A arc discharge between graphite electrodes in a He background gas. Raman spectroscopy reveals the existence of graphite and diamond-like structures from the arc discharge while in CHC magnetron sputtering, graphite-like structures are dominant. X-ray diffraction data of samples from the arc discharge show nano-size precipitates of Al₄C₃ of rhombohedral and hexagonal form for the aluminium sample and probable formation of diamond and hexagonal carbon in copper whilst in magnetron sputtering we obtain amorphous carbon films. Scanning electron microscope images of the surface show a collection of loose agglomerates of carbon particles in the arc discharge whereas, for magnetron sputtering, structures are regular with smooth edges and fine grains.     

Amorphous carbon films in direct current magnetron sputtering from regenerative sooting discharge

We present results of carbon coatings on metal substrates in cylindrical hollow cathode (CHC) direct current magnetron sputtering. This is a new technique for making amorphous carbon films by CHC magnetron sputtering from a regenerative sooting discharge. The carbon films are deposited on Cu and Al substrates in a Ne atmosphere and compared with the films of carbon soot on the same materials produced from a conventional 80A arc discharge between graphite electrodes in a He background gas. Raman spectroscopy reveals the existence of graphite and diamond-like structures from the arc discharge while in CHC magnetron sputtering, graphite-like structures are dominant. X-ray diffraction data of samples from the arc discharge show nano-size precipitates of Al₄C₃ of rhombohedral and hexagonal form for the aluminium sample and probable formation of diamond and hexagonal carbon in copper whilst in magnetron sputtering we obtain amorphous carbon films. Scanning electron microscope images of the surface show a collection of loose agglomerates of carbon particles in the arc discharge whereas, for magnetron sputtering, structures are regular with smooth edges and fine grains.     

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。     

碳纳米管工具电极的制备

纳米工具电极是进行纳米电解加工的必备条件,其特征尺寸直接影响纳米结构的最终尺寸.提出了利用电弧放电将碳纳米管束焊接在钨针尖上的纳米工具电极制备方法,并通过试验研究了钨针的针尖圆弧半径和放电电压对制备碳纳米管工具电极的影响.试验结果表明,不同尖端圆弧半径的钨针,所需有效放电电压不同,圆弧半径越小,有效放电电压越小,强电场分布越集中,越容易将碳纳米管束焊接在针尖的顶端;圆弧半径越大,强电场分布区域越大,越不容易控制碳纳米管束焊接的方向性.在针尖圆弧半径约为100 nm和300 nm的钨针上,放电电压分别为25 V和35 V时,成功制备出碳纳米管工具电极.     

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.     

Extracting of fullerene-like nanoparticles from environmental soots

It is well known that burning graphite electrodes in electric arc is an efficient method for obtaining of fullerenes. However, fullerenes form in any sooting flames. Therefore, detection fullerene in natural burning fuel is of a great interest for understanding of mechanism of soot formation. This research extracted samples of environmental soots in toluene. Soots and products of extraction were characterized by UV-vis spectroscopy, sedimentation analysis, atomic force microscopy. Analysis of extracts found fullerene-like clusters. The concentration of particles decreased in the following sequence: charcoal – carbon black – gas soot.     

Carbon Nanotubes Grown on the Surface of Cathode Deposit by Arc Discharge

Carbon nanotubes prepared by de arc discharge of graphite electrodes in He and CH₄ gas took markedly different morphology. Thick nanotubes embellished with many carbon nanoparticles were obtained by evaporation under high CH₄ gas pressure and high arc current. Thin and long carbon nanotubes were obtained under a CH₄ gas pressure of 50Torr and an arc current of 20A for the anode with a diameter of 6mm.     

Obtaining Carbon Nanoparticles with the Use of Electric‐Arc Discharge between Coaxial Electrodes

The structure of a setup and the results of experiments on obtaining carbon nanostructures with the use of a d.c. arc discharge between coaxial graphite electrodes have been presented. The discharge was stabilized by a magnetic field. The condensed carbon has been investigated by the method of atomicforce microscopy.     

A new type of arc plasma reactor with 12-phase alternating current discharge for synthesis of carbon nanotubes

A new type of arc plasma reactor with 12-phase alternating current (AC) discharge for synthesis of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) is proposed. A couple of six discharge electrodes by which have mutually electrical connection between them to enlarge the high-temperature regions in the reactor are arranged to three-dimensional locations. A new method of CNTs fabrication by this reactor, which accomplishes to enlarge the suitable growth region in high purity and at high yield, was developed.     

Carbon Nanotubes Grown on the Surface of Cathode Deposit by Arc Discharge

Abstract

Carbon nanotubes prepared by de arc discharge of graphite electrodes in He and CH₄ gas took markedly different morphology. Thick nanotubes embellished with many carbon nanoparticles were obtained by evaporation under high CH₄ gas pressure and high arc current. Thin and long carbon nanotubes were obtained under a CH₄ gas pressure of 50Torr and an arc current of 20A for the anode with a diameter of 6mm.     

Influence of the solution temperature on carbon nanotube formation by arc discharge method

Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) represent an important group of nanomaterials with attractive geometrical, electrical and chemical properties and are synthesised using a variety of techniques. In this study, CNTs are fabricated by arc discharge in liquid with a fully automatic setup, while this system is equipped with a heat exchange system. This fully automatic setup enables the controlling of gap between the two electrodes and temperature of the media. Furthermore, this system can cool down the solution that is heated due to arc and keep the temperature of solution constant during the arc discharge. The temperature of the solution affects the synthesising and structuring of CNTs. In this study, CNTs are fabricated between two graphite electrodes, which are submerged in LiCl (0.25?N) and with a voltage of 25?V, while Ni and Mo are used as catalysts. For comparative study, CNTs are synthesised under different thermal conditions, below zero, at environment temperature and at high temperature (up to 80°C), and the results are analysed, compared and discussed. The scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy and Raman spectroscopy are employed to study the morphology of these carbon nanostructures. The general impact of the solution temperature upon nanoproduct structures will be discussed.     

Liquid Phase Formation on Graphite Electrode Surface in Arc Discharge

The graphite electrode surface is studied after impact by an electric arc burning in an argon atmosphere at a pressure of 50 kPa. The arc occurred as a result of the local destruction of a graphite rod heated by electric current and preliminarily kept for 2 × 10³ s at a temperature of about 3 kK. After the arc discharge with a current of about 100 A with a duration within 1 s, we found drop-like particles, 0.1–0.3 mm in size, on the graphite electrode surface, which is evidence of the local occurrence of liquid carbon phase at a temperature of about 3.3 kK. With longer arc burning, the melting zone propagated over the entire working surface of the electrodes; the surface became smoothed.     

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.     

Synthesis of Heterogenous Multi-Walled Carbon Nanotubes in a Carbon Arc in Water

Boron-doped multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) were generated by arc discharge in water by using B-doped graphite electrodes. The product morphology was studied by SEM and HRTEM microscopy. The electronic features were determinated by Raman and EELS spectroscopy. Optical emission spectroscopy (OES) was used to evaluate the temperature and C₂ content distributions in arc plasma.     

水或液氮中电弧放电制备炭纳米材料

利用特制的电弧放电装置，研究了水或液氮中碳电弧放电形成炭纳米材料的机理。借助高分辨率透射电子显微镜对电弧放电生成的产物进行了观察和分析。结果表明：在水或液氮中碳电弧放电可以生成多壁碳纳米管和碳纳米洋葱结构，液氮中碳电弧放电可以生成单壁碳纳米角，水中钴催化碳电弧放电可以生成碳包裹的纳米钴颗粒。横向低频交变磁场会影响碳纳米材料的形核过程，并且可以推测磁场交变的频率5Hz与纳米管、纳米洋葱等结构的生长周期存在某种拟合。根据实验现象，提出了一种解释液体中碳电弧放电过程纳米材料生成的理论模型。     

Surface modification by electric discharge implemented with electrodes composed of carbon nanotubes

In this work the electric discharge machining (EDM) implementing with multi-wall carbon nanotubes (MWCNT) as a miniscule electrode for pursuing precise surface modification was studied. The excellent upright growth of carbon nanotubes on copper based alloy substrates by a radio frequency (RF) assisted hot filament chemical vapor deposition (HFCVD) method suggests us to exploit MWCNTs as the miniature electrodes for discharge machining. The results reveal that the electrodes are much endurable to be distorted even when the spoiling rates for the polishing of n-type Si wafer (of 10 to approximately 100 omega-cm) are up to 30 nm/min with. It is expected that MWCNTs can be applied to non-conventional material processing especially in miniature discharge machining.     

Development of a High-Current Vacuum Arc in a Rod Electrode System

The development of a high-current pulse electric discharge in a rod electrode system with the current amplitude changing from 10 to 100 kA is investigated using a sectional model of a vacuum chamber with the simultaneous recording of the electrical characteristics of the discharge, of the glow of discharge plasma, and of the spots on the electrodes. A phenomenon is revealed of a rapid transition of the discharge from the ignition unit to interrod gaps on reaching an instantaneous value of current from 5 to 9 kA. A correlation is established between the moment of appearance of an abrupt drop of voltage across the vacuum arc and the moment of formation of a new discharge channel in the interrod gap. It is demonstrated that various vacuum arc modes in the interrod gap and the multiplication of discharge channels in all interrod gaps are observed with increasing current. The effect of the rate of current increase on the development of the vacuum arc is investigated.     

Properties of super-hard carbon films deposited by pulsed arc process

The pulsed vacuum arc discharge (pulsed arc) is the most efficient PVD-technology for the deposition of super-hard carbon films on tools and machinery parts. Using the pulsed arc discharge a stable evaporation process of carbon and an efficient deposition of hydrogen-free ta-C type films is possible. In this paper, important properties of such ta-C films and their process conditions are explained. The films were characterized by hardness measurements using nanoindentation, friction and wear properties using oscillating sliding tests, and structural analysis using Raman spectroscopy.