Molar Concentration Dependence of Sucrose Solution in Carbon Nanotube Synthesis by Liquid-Phase Arc Discharge

Abstract

We synthesized carbon nanotubes (CNTs) from sucrose solution, used as a carbon source, by the liquid-phase arc discharge method, which generates electric sparks between metal electrodes. The quality of the CNTs depends on the molar concentration of sucrose solution because the discharge characteristics vary with its viscosity. When a lower density solution, 0.5 mol/L in this study, was used, the G/D ratio of the generated CNTs was the highest. This result implies that discharge characteristics dependent on solution density play an important role in CNT synthesis in liquid-phase arc discharge. We also examined other saccharides (fructose, glucose, lactose, and maltose) as carbon sources. The results indicated that only sucrose molecules provide CNT precursors.

Effect of Inrush Current on Carbon Nanotube Synthesis from Xylene by Liquid-Phase Pulsed Arc Method Using Copper Electrodes

“…We previously demonstrated the production of shorter and high-crystallinity CNTs using a sucrose solution as a carbon supplier [11]; however, electron microscopy revealed the formation of only a few nanotubes in the specimen, suggesting that the sample contained a high proportion of metal particles. Moreover, we recently found that discharge characteristics dependent on sucrose concentration play an important role in CNT synthesis by liquid-phase arc discharge [12]. This experiment determined that the number of electric sparks decreases with an increasing molar concentration of the sucrose solution.…”

Hierarchical Structures of Carbon Nanotubes and Arrays of Chromium‐Capped Silicon Nanopillars: Formation and Electrical Properties

“…Different methods for the formation of CNTs, such as chemical vapor deposition (CVD), electric-arc discharge, [6] laser ablation, [7] the catalytic decomposition of hydrocarbons, [8] electrolysis, [9] and low-temperature solid pyrolysis, [10] have been reported. For some applications, it is necessary to achieve ordered CNT architectures: The use of CNTs in FETs or in thin-film transistors (TFTs) requires the control of CNT growth at predefined locations.…”

One-Step Synthesis of Metal-Encapsulated Carbon Nanotubes by Pulsed Arc Discharge in Water

“…To synthesize nano-carbon materials including CNTs, we have performed an arc discharge method in water [14,15], in foam [16][17][18][19], or in sucrose solution [20,21]. The formation of M@CNTs by using metal, which is incorporated into CNTs, as the cathode was also reported [14].…”