Synthesis of carbon nanostructures in arc with graphite electrodes

We utilize an inert gas (e.g., helium or argon) DC arc discharge with a vaporized anode at atmospheric pressure, or anodic arc, which has been successfully applied to the synthesis of a broad class of nanomaterials, including carbon nanoparticles, carbon nanotubes, and other nanostructures. Figure 1 shows the schematic of an atmospheric pressure arc plasma.

Carbon neutral atoms evaporate from the anode, which is heated by plasma electrons. The ions created by ionization will then deposit to the cathode.