EFFECT OF SF6 ADDITION IN THE LASER SYNTHESIS OF FULLERENE AND SOOT FROM C6H6 O-2 OR C6H6/N2O SENSITIZED MIXTURES/

The effects of SF6 relative concentration on fullerene and soot format ion in the CO2 laser synthesis from benzene/oxygen and benzene/nitrous oxide sensitized mixtures are reported. Infrared (IR) measurements of exhaust gases and of solid products allowed for identification of flu orinated compounds which were indicative for the partial SF6 decomposi tion. The production of C-60 and C-70 was determined by HPLC. It is fo und that an optimum temperature range exists for fullerene formation. The influence of SF, dissociation is studied. The formation of fullere ne as a function of two different oxidant agents (O-2 or N2O) has also been studied. Preliminary results show a higher production of fullere nes in C6H6/N2O as compared to similar C6H6/O-2 mixtures. From the exp erimental results, it seems that the synthesis of fullerene by laser p yrolysis is comparable to flame experiments. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.