Production of carbon nanotubes by microwave plasma torch at atmospheric pressure

The key requirements of nanotube formation are an atomic carbon source and a source of nanometal particles. Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) have been synthesized by an argon/nitrogen microwave plasma torch using a mixture of acetylene and vapor-phase iron pentacarbonyl at the atmospheric pressure. The synthesized CNTs have been analyzed by scanning electron microscopy, field-emission transmission electron microscopy, and Raman spectroscopy, and are shown to be multiwalled and have a bamboo-shaped structure. The synthesized CNTs in some areas are well aligned. It is also found that the higher the content of nitrogen gas used, the higher the number of rough and wavy surfaces and the inner intersecting layers.