Magnetic control of synthesis and characterization of carbon nanostructures produced in an anodic arc plasma

Anodic arc discharge supported by the erosion of the anode material is one of the most practical and efficient methods to synthesize various high-quality carbon nanostructures including nanotubes, graphene due to its relatively higher growth temperature and eco-friendly procedures. In order to increase the arc controllability of the as-synthesized products, we introduced a non-uniform magnetic field which has component normal to the current in the arc, so that the Lorentz force along the J×B direction can generate the plasma jet and make effective delivery of carbon ion particles and heat flux to samples. As a result, large-scale graphene flakes and high-purity single-walled carbon nanotubes were simultaneously generated by the magnetically-enhanced anodic arc method. Arc imaging, SEM, TEM and Raman spectroscopy analysis were employed. These findings indicate a wide spectrum of opportunities to manipulate with the properties of nanostructures produced in magnetically-enhanced arc discharge by means of control of arc conditions.