Synthesis of Onion-Like Fullerenes by Arc Discharge in Non-Toxic Organic Liquid

Abstract

The effect of different organic media on synthesis of carbon nanomaterials in this study was discussed, Onion-like Fullerenes (OLFs) and Multi-walled carbon nanotubes can be synthsized by arc discharge in dextrin with graphite can be used as electrodes. Field-emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM) and High resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM) and X-ray diffraction (XRD) techniques were used to characterize morphologies and structures of the products. Results show that OLFs and Multi-walled carbon nanotubes with large amount were observed in the deposit formed on the surface of cathode. The arc discharge in polyethylene glycol solution gave but large quantity of carbon nanotubes rather than OLFs.

Keywords:

• OLFs
• Multi-walled carbon nanotubes
• arc discharge
• dextrin
• polyethylene glycol

Acknowledgments

This work is supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFCC No. 50975190) and the National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFCC No. 10872197).