Mass production of carbon nanotubes by arc discharge evaporation

Abstract

Two kinds of methods for mass production of carbon nanotubes by DC arc discharge are described. One is conventional arc method to prepare multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWNTs), but newly designed that the cathode graphite rod was automatically fed to get continuous arc discharge. By evaporating in the atmosphere of rarefied pure hydrogen gas, high-quality MWNTs were obtained in the cathode deposit. The second is newly developd arc plasma jet method to produce single-wall carbon nanotubes (SWNTs). High yield of SWNTs was obtained in the cottony carbon soot within the chamber. Prepared MWNTs and SWNTs were characterized by SEM, TEM and Raman spectroscopy. Several breathing modes of MWNTs were obtained at 206-388cm-1.