Influence of carbon concentration and rotational temperature on fullerene yield in RF reactor

Abstract

In this paper, report on fullerene formation in a radio-frequency (RF) thermal plasma reactor has been presented. In order to determine the degree of evaporation of the graphite precursor used, analysis of SEM micrographs of deposited soot in different parts of RF reactor has been made. It was found that the degree of graphite evaporation and fullerene yield varied depending on the distance from the plasma torch nozzle. Carbon concentration and rotational temperature of C-2 radicals in plasma flame have been calculated as well. The concentration of C-2 radicals in plasma flame, which participated in fullerene formation, was in the range of (1.75-3.88)- 10(20) m(-3).