Nanotube deposition in a continuous arc reactor for varying arc gap and substrate temperature

Continuous production of carbon nanotubes – A review

“…While another study directed by Yusoff et al (2006), uses a moving carbon tape substrate passed between two electrodes indicated in Fig. 3 to grow CNTs [36]. This process uses nitrogen gas as a buffer and a cathode is slowly sublimed with the carbon tape substrate supported by the anode.…”

“…In the continuous arc method, the authors of [36] grow CNTs on top of a moving carbon tape and as the tape moves, synthesized CNTs move along with it and at the same time a new region of tape moves into the reaction zone of the previously grown CNTs to form fresh CNTs. This process is continuous with [ ( F i g .…”

“…Both methods consume the electrodes to synthesize CNTs by forming an arc when the electrodes are brought into contact, here the liquid is used as a cooling agent and also to prevent oxidation. While another study directed by Yusoff et al (2006), uses a moving carbon tape substrate passed between two electrodes indicated in Fig. 3 to grow CNTs [36].…”

“…In arc methods, current research proves to be able to grow CNTs in a gas environment and a liquid environment as described earlier. The difference in the reaction process depends on the use of a carbon source by either using a gas environment to act as a buffer [36] or a liquid environment to provide oxygen free environments [35]; given the graphite electrodes, the reaction process takes place with electrically connected electrodes initially brought into contact to generate an arc discharge [3,16,35,36]. As for the carbon gases, powders and consumable carbon electrodes, the reaction occurs in a high temperature plasma generated by the non-consumable electrodes.…”

Influence of anode surface temperature in a continuously-fed arc discharge depositing carbon nanotubes

“…In this study we report on the electrode surface temperature and .the way it changes with differing inter-electrode gap, background gas and arc current The novel approach previously reported [11] for measuring the surface temperature was used. To understand the growth mechanism of CNTs in the arc discharge process, it is crucial to study the temperature of the surface where they grow, and thus also the effect of physical parameters such as arc gap and buffer gas flow on the anode temperature (in this case the carbon substrate acts as an anode).…”