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Heat transfer during production of carbon nanotubes by the electric-arc process

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Abstract

The electric-arc process for production of single-wall carbon nanotubes is traditionally conducted in horizontal configuration. Recently, we modified the electric-arc process by placing the cathode above the anode and obtained a significant reduction in nanotube diameters. In this paper, the temperature distribution in the electrodes and the arc, and the temperature and velocity fields in the reactor chamber are characterized through measurement and modeling. The data and the model reveal that the bundles of 0.8 nm single-wall carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) grew on the cathode side surface at about 900°C. The 1.4 nm multi-wall nanotubes grew on the cathode base, at about 1500°C. These results concur with the hypothesis that high temperature prevents growth of smaller diameter SWCNTs.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Mechanical, Aeronautical and Nuclear Engineering and Materials Science and Engineering Department, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Troy, NY, 12180, USA

    A. G. Ostrogorsky

  2. Department of Physics, University of Puerto Rico, PR, USA

    C. Marin

Authors
  1. A. G. Ostrogorsky
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  2. C. Marin
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Correspondence to A. G. Ostrogorsky.

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Ostrogorsky, A.G., Marin, C. Heat transfer during production of carbon nanotubes by the electric-arc process. Heat Mass Transfer 42, 470–477 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00231-005-0644-7

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