Effects of precursors and plasma parameters on fullerene synthesis in RF thermal plasma reactor

Abstract

Synthesis of fullerenes from graphite powders of different grade was studied in a radiofrequency (RF) plasma reactor. Dependence of fullerene yield on the properties and feed rate of precursors and on the helium content of plasma gas was studied in details. The fullerene yield was influenced by the mean size and the thermal conductivity of graphite particles on the one hand, and the helium content of the gas phase on the other. Soot containing fullerene mixture of 5.9% was produced in best conditions found in this work. The main component of the fullerene mixture was C-60. In addition, it contained about 30% of C-70 (corresponding to a C-60/C-70 mass ratio of 2.64). Higher fullerenes such as C-84 were also detected by mass spectroscopy (MS) and high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC).