Automatic production of fullerenes by a JxB arc jet discharge

Conference · Sun Dec 31 04:00:00 EST 1995

OSTI ID:212775

Mieno, Tetsu ^[1]

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1. Shizuoka Univ. (Japan)

Effective production of many kinds of fullerenes including higher fullerenes and endohedral metallo-fullerenes are necessary to advance fullerene science and technology. Currently, the DC arc discharge method is the most effective method to produce fullerenes. However, carbon atoms evaporated from the anode tend to deposit on the cathode, which grow towards the anode, and obstruct the control of the arc discharge. Furthermore, deposited carbon should be removed to maintain continuous fullerene production. Here, to reduce the deposition of carbon on the cathode, a new discharge method is introduced and the experiment performed. When steady magnetic field is applied perpendicular to the DC current of the arc, ions and electrons are accelerated by JxB force as a plasma jet in the vertical direction. This plasma flow also accelerates helium convection due to the viscosity effect. Therefore, the carbon atoms and carbon neutrals are both blown up by the arc jet before arriving at the cathode. The arc flame in the experiment is actually observed to extend upwards, which dearly indicates the effect of the JxB force.

• OSTI ID: 212775
• Report Number(s): CONF-950749--
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

40 CHEMISTRY
66 PHYSICS
ELECTRIC DISCHARGES
FULLERENES
GAS FLOW
MAGNETIC FIELDS
PLASMA JETS
PRODUCTION