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Title: A model of reaction field in gas-injected arc-in-water method to synthesize single-walled carbon nanohorns: Influence of water temperature

Journal Article · · Journal of Applied Physics
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1063/1.3259377· OSTI ID:21361940
 [1]; ;  [1];  [2]
  1. Department of Chemical Engineering, Graduate School of Engineering, Kyoto University, Kyoto 615-8510 (Japan)
  2. Department of Chemical Engineering, Center of Excellence in Particle Technology, Faculty of Engineering, Chulalongkorn University, Patumwan, Bangkok 10330 (Thailand)

The method to synthesize single-walled carbon nanohorns (SWCNHs) using gas-injected arc in water (GI-AIW) has been experimentally studied. GI-AIW is known as one of the cost-effective methods to obtain SWCNHs. It was revealed that the yield of SWCNHs significantly decreases with the increase in water temperature although the purity of SWCNHs is not dependent on the temperature change. Then the model of relevant reactions in the GI-AIW system was proposed by accounting the emission of carbon vapor, formation of SWCNHs, and diffusion of water vapor in three zones inside the cathode hole (arc plasma zone, quenching zone, and downstream zone). The side reaction between H{sub 2}O and C produces H{sub 2} gas and consumes a certain amount of carbon vapor, resulting in the hindered SWCNH formation. Moreover the observation of the optical spectra emitting from the arc plasma zone strongly supported that the H{sub 2} generating reaction does not occur at arc plasma zone since N{sub 2} flow can purge H{sub 2}O out. The model proposed in this study can precisely explain the correlation between H{sub 2} gas production and water temperature.

OSTI ID:
21361940
Journal Information:
Journal of Applied Physics, Vol. 106, Issue 10; Other Information: DOI: 10.1063/1.3259377; (c) 2009 American Institute of Physics; ISSN 0021-8979
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English