MECHANISM OF FORMATION OF CARBON NANOPARTICLES IN AN ELECTRIC ARC

Mechanisms of formation of carbon nanoparticles in an electric are are discussed. The model of a curling carbon sheet, leading to the growth of a nanoparticle of quasi-helical structure, does not agree with a n umber of experimental facts. For the nanoparticles of shell structure, the model of successive growth of shells is not confirmed by our simu lation based on the method of molecular dynamics. It is assumed that n anoparticles of shell structure are formed from graphite nanocrystals evaporated from the electrodes. It is further assumed that carbon clus ters, obtained by means of laser ablation and consisting of more than 300 atoms, have two shells. A method is proposed for obtaining nanopar ticles with a metallic nucleus containing 10 to 100 atoms.