Induction plasma synthesis of fullerenes and nanotubes using carbon black–nickel particles

The existence of fullerenes (as allotropes of carbon) was established in the mid-1980s and during the last 15–18 years, systematic efforts have been devoted to improve the methods of their synthesis, including plasma-based system methods. The work presented here is focused on the investigation of fullerenes synthesis, using a radio frequency plasma reactor. The main objectives were to explore the use of induction plasma technology for the synthesis in-continuo of carbon fullerenes and to predict their formation conditions through conduct of theoretical studies. Thus, a thermodynamic study was carried out to predict the equilibrium composition of fullerenes produced at several combinations of operating conditions. Additionally, a statistical factorial design experiment, employing four factors at two levels, was also developed, in order to study the influence of the system’s operating parameters on the eventual C60 fullerene yield. The results obtained showed that the reactor pressure, the electrical power and the raw material feed rates all have an important effect on the synthesis of fullerenes. The highest C60 concentration in the products was found to be about 7.7 wt.%. Various other carbon nanostructures, such as nanotubes and nano-onions, were also successfully produced.