Production of single-wall nanotubes by high-temperature pulsed arc discharge: Mechanisms of their production

Single-wall carbon nanotubes (SWNTs) have been produced for the first time using the high-temperature pulsed arc-discharge technique, which has been d eveloped recently in this laboratory, as reported in the conventional stead y are discharge method. Scanning electron microscopic (SEM) and transmissio n electron microscopic (TEM) observations reveal significant production of bundles of SWNTs in soot. The pulsed are production of SWNTs favors a high- temperature (greater than or equal to 1000 degrees C), long pulses (greater than or equal to 1 ms) and a heavy rare gas such as Ar or Kr as a buffer g as.