Synthesis of carbon nanostructures by arc evaporation of graphite rods with Co–Ni and YNi 2 catalysts

• Published in: Carbon (New York) Vol. 41; no. 7; pp. 1357 - 1364
• Main Authors: Tarasov, Boris P., Muradyan, Vyacheslav E., Shul’ga, Yuri M., Krinichnaya, Elena P., Kuyunko, Nina S., Efimov, Oleg N., Obraztsova, Elena D., Schur, Dmitry V., Maehlen, Jan Petter, Yartys, Volodymyr A., Lai, Hong-Jen
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier Ltd 2003
• Subjects: A. Carbon nanotubes; B. Chemical treatment; C. Thermal analysis; Raman spectroscopy; Soot; B. Chemical treatment; C. Thermal analysis; Soot; Raman spectroscopy; A. Carbon nanotubes
• ISSN: 0008-6223; 1873-3891
• DOI: 10.1016/S0008-6223(03)00060-5

Yields of single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWNTs) produced from electric arc evaporation of graphite electrodes with 3Co/Ni and YNi 2 catalysts differ substantially. For instance, with YNi 2 catalyst, the SWNT yield is ∼30–50 wt.% in ‘collar’ soot and ∼10–15 wt.% in ‘wall’ soot, while with 3Co/Ni catalyst, the yields are ∼15–20 wt.% and 2–3 wt.%, respectively. According to Raman spectroscopy data, the average dimension of SWNTs is ∼1.2 nm for 3Co/Ni and ∼1.4 nm for YNi 2 catalyst. Optimum conditions for synthesis also differ for catalysts compared; namely, for 3Co/Ni: current intensity is 93 A, helium pressure is 650 Torr, the electrode gap is 2.5–3 mm; for YNi 2: current intensity is 98 A, helium pressure is 500 Torr, the electrode gap is 1–2 mm.