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Synthesis of carbon 'onions' in water

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Abstract

The fabrication of carbon nanomaterials usually calls for expensive vacuum systems to generate plasmas1,2 and yields are disappointingly low. Here we describe a simple method for producing high-quality spherical carbon nano-'onions' in large quantities without the use of vacuum equipment. The nanoparticles, which have C60 cores surrounded by onion-like nested particles, are generated by an arc discharge between two graphite electrodes submerged in water. This technique is economical and environmentally benign, and produces uncontaminated nanoparticles which may be useful in many applications.

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Figure 1: Carbon nano-'onions' created by arc discharge in water.

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Author notes

  1. N. Sano

    Present address: Department of Chemical Engineering, Himeji Institute of Technology, Himeji, 671-2201, Japan

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Engineering, University of Cambridge, Trumpington Street, Cambridge, CB2 1PZ, UK

    N. Sano, H. Wang, M. Chhowalla, I. Alexandrou & G. A. J. Amaratunga

Authors
  1. N. Sano
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  2. H. Wang
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  3. M. Chhowalla
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  4. I. Alexandrou
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  5. G. A. J. Amaratunga
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to M. Chhowalla.

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Sano, N., Wang, H., Chhowalla, M. et al. Synthesis of carbon 'onions' in water. Nature 414, 506–507 (2001). https://doi.org/10.1038/35107141

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