Synthesis of carbon nanotubes by a plasma based pulsed electron beam generator

Abstract

Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) were synthesized by using a plasma based electron beam generator, which has a fast filamentary discharge formed from the superposition of an ordinary low-pressure dc glow and a high-current pulsed discharge. To our knowledge, CNTs are synthesized for the first time by this method. Acetylene was used as the carbon source and the iron catalyst coated silica substrates were prepared by the sol-gel technique. The silica plates were first coated with an appropriate iron (III) nitrate solution. After calcination and reduction with hydrogen nano iron particles were formed on the plates. The products were collected from two different zones of the e-beam generator. The products were characterized by transmission electron microscopy and Raman spectroscopy.