Systematic investigation of sustained laser-induced incandescence in carbon nanotubes

Journal Article · Mon Mar 15 00:00:00 EDT 2010 · Journal of Applied Physics

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1063/1.3359681· OSTI ID:21476170

Lim, Zhi Han; Sow, Chorng-Haur ^[1]; Lee, Andrielle; Zhu, Yanwu ^[1]; Lim, Kassandra Yu Yan ^[2]

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1. Department of Physics, Faculty of Science, National University of Singapore, Singapore 117542 (Singapore)
2. Hwa Chong Institution, 661 Bukit Timah Rd., Singapore 269734 (Singapore)

A focused laser beam irradiating on aligned carbon nanotubes (CNTs) in moderate vacuum results in bright and sustained laser-induced incandescence (LII) in CNTs. The incandescence corresponds to blackbody radiation from laser-heated CNTs at {approx}2400 K. Post-LII craters with well-defined ring boundaries in the CNT array were observed and examined with scanning electron microscopy and Raman spectroscopy. The enhanced purity of CNTs after LII as indicated by Raman spectroscopy studies was attributed to the removal of amorphous carbons on the as-grown CNTs during LII. A dynamic study of the crater formation further elucidates the nature of such craters. Through a systematic study of the effect of vacuum level and gaseous environment on LII, we discovered the process of thermal runaway during LII in CNTs. Thermal runaway is a threat to a sustained LII and can be prevented in nitrogen and argon environments. Oxygen was found to be responsible for thermal runaway reactions.

• OSTI ID: 21476170
• Journal Information: Journal of Applied Physics, Vol. 107, Issue 6; Other Information: DOI: 10.1063/1.3359681; (c) 2010 American Institute of Physics; ISSN 0021-8979
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

77 NANOSCIENCE AND NANOTECHNOLOGY
36 MATERIALS SCIENCE
ARGON
BLACKBODY RADIATION
CARBON
IRRADIATION
LASER RADIATION
LUMINESCENCE
NANOTUBES
NITROGEN
OXYGEN
RAMAN SPECTRA
RAMAN SPECTROSCOPY
SCANNING ELECTRON MICROSCOPY
ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION
ELECTRON MICROSCOPY
ELEMENTS
EMISSION
FLUIDS
GASES
LASER SPECTROSCOPY
MICROSCOPY
NANOSTRUCTURES
NONMETALS
PHOTON EMISSION
RADIATIONS
RARE GASES
SPECTRA
SPECTROSCOPY