Multi-walled carbon nanotubes produced by hydrogen DC arc discharge at elevated environment temperature

Multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) were synthesized by hydrogen DC arc discharge at elevated environment temperature. The sample collected from the soot on the inner wall of the arc discharge furnace was investigated using TEM, HRTEM and X-ray diffraction. The results show that environment temperature has a significant effect on the formation of MWCNTs in the soot in hydrogen atmosphere as well as the diameter of the tubes. When environment temperature in the furnace is higher than about 500 °C, MWCNTs can be formed on the furnace walls with a great quantity.     

The preparation of carbon nanotubes by dc arc discharge using a carbon cathode coated with catalyst

Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) were grown using a dc arc discharge process and relevant process parameters were investigated. Unlike the usual process in which a carbon anode is filled with metal catalyst powder, CNTs were prepared using a carbon cathode on which the metal catalyst had been deposited using an electroplating system. Various transition metals were investigated. The results show that multi walled carbon nanotubes (MWNTs) and single walled carbon nanotubes (SWNTs) can both be synthesized using this technique. SWNTs are detected in the soot sample collected around the cathode, whereas the MWNTs are detected mainly in the deposit sample collected from the central area of the cathode. The CNT yield varies depending on the catalyst used and the properties of a good catalyst are discussed.     

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.     

Conversion of toluene into carbon nanotubes using arc discharge plasmas in solution

In order to form nanocarbon materials, an arc discharge plasma method in hydrocarbon solvent is developed. In the case that the arc discharge is performed in toluene with nickel electrodes, tube-like nanocarbons were formed from toluene. The catalysis of the metal electrodes is found to be an important factor for the formation of the nanocarbons by the arc discharge in toluene. This method has a possibility of forming carbon nanotubes from liquid state solvents as a new carbon source by using catalyst ingredient as discharge electrodes.     

Catalyst effect on the preparation of single-walled carbon nanotubes by a modified arc discharge

Single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) were prepared by a modified arc discharge furnace using 500?Torr helium as buffer gas at 600?°C. The effect of the catalyst type on the production of SWCNTs was studied by transmission electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction and Raman spectroscopy. The experimental results indicated that the catalyst composition plays an important role in the production rate and purity of the SWCNTs product. Fe-Ni-Mg and Co-Ni powder catalysts demonstrated excellent catalytic effect at a catalyst content of 3?wt%. The soot production rate was up to 15?g/hr and the mean diameter of SWCNTs was about 1.3?nm.     

Coral-like amorphous carbon nanotubes synthesized by a modified arc discharge

A coral-like amorphous carbon nanotube was prepared by a modified arc discharging furnace in hydrogen atmosphere with a mixture of Mo-Co₂O₃-Mg powders as catalyst at 600°C. This carbon nanotube presented a microscopic coral-like by SEM observation and amorphous structure of nanotubes by HRTEM observation. The XRD diffraction and Raman pattern presented noncrystal characteristics compared to the normal graphite structure. We believed that these results may be affected by the “synergistic” effect of catalyst, atmosphere, and temperature in the synthesis process. The possible explanations to the formation mechanism of this novel carbon nanotube have also been proposed.     

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。     

Synthesis of high quality single-walled carbon nanotubes by arc discharge method in large scale

Single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWNTs) were synthesized by a novel method. The dc arc discharge in H₂-Ar gas atmosphere with Fe₃O₄ as catalyst was used. The morphology and structures of the as-prepared SWNTs were characterized by SEM, HRTEM and Raman spectroscopy techniques. The results indicated that this new catalyst could be used to produce SWNTs with high purity and yield in large scale. The purity and yield of the SWNTs synthesized from these new catalysts were affected by the mixture buffer gas. Based on the overall ease and low-cost advantages of these new catalysts, these results suggest a potential opportunity for cost-effective and commercial production of SWNTs.     

Preparation of Cu nanoparticles on carbon nanotubes by solution infusion method and calcining in ambient atmosphere

Copper nanoparticles were synthesized using carbon nanotubes as a template. The process involved neither pre-purification nor an additional reducing agent. This method was simple and the Cu nanoparticles were uniformly loaded on the carbon nanotubes. TEM, SEM, XRD and EDX were used to examine the morphology of the Cu particles. The diameter of the carbon nanotubes is about 70-90 nm and the size of the nanoparticles is about 50-70 nm.     

Synthesis of single-walled carbon nanotubes by arc-vaporization under high gravity condition

Arc-vaporization is one of the common methods to synthesize single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWNTs). However the detailed synthesis mechanism is still not clear, and the synthesis of longer and chirality-selected SWNTs has not been obtained. Here influence of the gravity G = 1 g₀, 2 g₀, and 3 g₀ is studied in order to develop the synthesis method of SWNTs. Simultaneously, calculations of heat convection are also carried out by using a fluid simulation program and the results are compared with the experimental results.     

低压空气中直流电弧法制备单壁碳纳米管

本文以Fe-S为催化剂、低压空气为缓冲气体采用直流电弧放电法首次大量合成低成本、高质量的单壁碳纳米管。实验结果表明在电弧放电过程中通过控制空气流量,使得电弧腔室压强保持在6～12 KPa为最优制备条件。采用扫描电子显微镜(SEM)和透射电子显微镜(TEM)对样品的形貌和结构进行表征,结果表明该方法所制备的单壁碳纳米管具有较高结晶度,管壁表面光滑、其直径为1.5～6.0 nm.采用低压空气电弧放电法有望成为低成本、大量制备高质量单壁碳纳米管的重要技术手段之一。     

Hydrogen storage capacity of single-walled carbon nanotube prepared by a modified arc discharge

Single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs, the mean diameter of 1.35 nm) were produced by a modified arc discharging furnace using a mixture powder of KCl and Co-Ni alloy as catalyst at 600°C. The hydrogen storage capacity of SWCNTs was enhanced by the mechanism of atom hydrogen spillover from the supported catalyst. The temperature effect on the hydrogen storage capacity of as-grown SWCNTs was investigated. The relative experiments of SWCNT hydrogen uptake and release were carried out by a high-pressure volumetric gas-adsorption measurement system. The experimental results indicated that the hydrogen storage capacity of SWCNTs increased with the environmental temperatures decreasing. The hydrogen storage capacity of SWCNTs was up to 1.73 wt% at 77 K for 2 hours under the pressure of 10 MPa, and the corresponding releasing hydrogen capacity is about 1.23 wt% under ambient pressure.     

不同压力下碳纳米管的电弧法合成及其表征

采用电弧放电法在氦气/乙炔混合气氛中,在不同压力下合成了碳纳米管.运用场发射扫描电镜、场发射透射电镜、X-射线衍射仪和拉曼光谱对碳纳米管的形貌进行了表征.采用可见发射光谱对碳纳米管的形成过程进行了原位诊断研究.场发射扫描电镜结果表明,在氦气/乙炔气氛中合成的碳纳米管的长度大于50微米,许多碳颗粒沉积在碳纳米管壁上.场发射透射电镜结果表明,在0.100MPa下合成的碳纳米管的壁厚明显大于0.035MPa下合成的碳纳米管的壁厚.可见发射光谱诊断结果表明,CH和C2物种可能作为碳纳米管形成的前驱体,其中,以H原子作为无定形炭的刻蚀物种.阳极消耗速率和产物在阴极的沉积速率随着反应器中压力的增加而增加.因此,可以通过加强阳极和乙炔的蒸发速率及CH和C2物种的沉积速率而增加碳纳米管的形成速率.     

An attempt to prepare carbon nanotubes by carbonizing polyphosphazene nanotubes with high carbon content

Polyphosphazene nanotubes with about 20 nm in inner diameter and 100-200 nm in outer diameter were fabricated easily and then carbonized at 800 °C in a nitrogen atmosphere. Scanning electron microscopy and transmission electron microscope results showed that the bulk morphology of polyphosphazene nanotubes was retained after carbonization. The carbon content of the carbonized samples reached 93.28%. X-ray diffraction and Raman spectrum showed that the carbonized samples had low graphitization state. The present method can be used for a mass production of carbon nanotubes.     

Effect of carbon nanotubes on structure and properties of the antifriction coatings produced by plasma cladding

Abstract

Due to their high antifriction characteristics, the Sn-Sb-Cu alloys (referred to as babbits) are widely used to coat sliding bearings. However, some limitations of the present techniques for applying such coating materials cause a decrease in their fatigue strength because of the reinforcing phase particles growth. As a technique for restricting the increasing of the reinforcing particle sizes, this paper proposes plasma surface cladding with multiwall carbon nanotubes (MWNTs) as modifiers. The dry sliding friction tests performed according to the “pin-on-disk” scheme using as a counterface a steel 100Cr6 (DIN 17230) disk have shown that adding to the coating 0.25%wt of CNTs significantly improves the friction stability (the coefficient of friction process stability decreases twice with reducing the friction coefficient and wear resistance by 5% on the average). An attempt to reveal the mechanism for the MWNT influence on the structure and performance of the babbit-based coatings was undertaken. Studies of the coatings metal structure by soft X-ray absorption spectroscopy and also by the metallographic and fractographic analysis involving electron-microscopy have shown that MWNTs remain stable during plasma cladding process and save into the coating.     

Moderate temperature synthesis of single-walled carbon nanotubes on alumina supported nickel oxide catalyst

A simple nickel oxide catalyst has been developed in synthesizing single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWNTs) at moderate temperature. The catalyst used in the experiment was without a preceding reduction in hydrogen flow. The synthesis of SWNTs was performed at a temperature of 700 °C, which represents a moderate reaction temperature. The presence of SWNTs on the catalyst was confirmed by transmission electron microscope (TEM) and Raman spectroscope. The Raman spectrum shows a strong intensity at the radial breathing mode, indicating that the occurrence of SWNTs was dominant. Raman data further reveals that the synthesized SWNTs had the diameters in the range from 0.58 to 2.02 nm.     

Enhanced electron emission from titanium coated multiwalled carbon nanotubes

Enhanced field emission properties and improved crystallinity of titanium (Ti) coated multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs), prepared by microwave plasma enhanced chemical vapour deposition have been observed. Ti films of extremely low thicknesses (0.5 nm, 1.0 nm and 1.5 nm) were coated over carbon nanotubes (CNTs) and their field emission behaviour was investigated. The turn on field of Ti coated CNTs was found to be low (~ 0.8 V/μm) as compared to pristine CNTs (~ 1.8 V/μm). The field enhancement factor for Ti coated CNTs was quite large (~ 1.14 × 10⁴) as compared to pristine CNTs (~ 6 × 10³). This enhancement in electron emission is attributed to the passivation of defects and improved crystallinity of CNTs. Surface morphological and microstructural studies were carried out to investigate the growth of pristine and Ti coated CNTs. It was observed that Ti nanoclusters adsorb on the edges of MWCNTs and increase their crystallinity. This increase is directly correlated with the thickness of Ti film deposited. Micro Raman spectroscopy confirmed the improved crystallanity of Ti coated CNTs.     

Wide characterisation to compare conventional and highly effective microwave purification and functionalization of multi-wall carbon nanotubes

Both microwave-assisted and conventional acidic treatments for the purification and functionalization of multi-wall carbon nanotubes were investigated. Impurities such as zeolite, catalyst particles and amorphous carbon were eliminated. In comparison to the harshness of the acidic treatment of a conventional technique, the microwave-assisted procedure makes it possible to obtain a material with a higher degree of purity (> 98%) and -COOH functionalization in a shorter time, at a lower temperature, with a smaller amount and lower concentration of acid, as well as without agitation. An extensive step-by-step characterization of the treated samples has shown that the microwave-assisted treatment has limited effects on the significant characteristics of the nanotubes.     

用于制备优质单壁碳纳米管管束的MgO负载Fe3O4纳米粒子的合成

采用沉淀方法制备了直径分布狭窄的均匀Fe3O4纳米颗粒.Fe3O4纳粒形体几近一致,平均粒径为10.33 nm±2.99 nm(平均粒径±标准偏差).在超声作用下将MgO纳米颗粒分散在一定量Fe3O4纳米颗粒的水溶液中获得MgO负载Fe3O4的纳米颗粒.以甲烷为碳源,Fe3O4/MgO为催化剂,经化学气相沉积,在Fe3O4纳粒上制得了大量直径近乎均匀的单壁碳纳米管(SWCNTs)束.TEM显示:SWCNTs的平均直径1.22rm.热重分析显示:样品在400℃～600℃温度区间失重量约19％.拉曼光谱显示:SWCNTs的ID/IG的强度比为0.03,表明采用Fe3O4/MgO催化剂可制得高石墨化程度的单壁碳纳米管.     

Carbon nanotubes and diamond-like carbon films produced by cathodic micro-arc discharge in aqueous solutions

This letter reports the synthesis of carbon nanotubes and diamond-like carbon films using cathodic micro-arc discharge in aqueous solutions. The conditions and mechanisms for the growth of these structures were briefly discussed based on the experimental observations.