Production of single-wall nanotubes by high-temperature pulsed arc discharge: Mechanisms of their production

Single-wall carbon nanotubes (SWNTs) have been produced for the first time using the high-temperature pulsed arc-discharge technique, which has been developed recently in this laboratory, as reported in the conventional steady are discharge method. Scanning electron microscopic (SEM) and transmission electron microscopic (TEM) observations reveal significant production of bundles of SWNTs in soot. The pulsed are production of SWNTs favors a high-temperature (greater than or equal to 1000 degrees C), long pulses (greater than or equal to 1 ms) and a heavy rare gas such as Ar or Kr as a buffer gas.