CNTs are rolled graphene sheets of atoms about their needle axis. They are 0.7 to 100 nm in diameter and a few microns in length. Carbon hexagons are arranged in a concentric manner with both ends of the tube capped by a pentagon contining Buckminister fullerene type structure. Iijima verified fullerenes in 1991 and observed MWNTs formed from carbon arc discharge. Five methods of synthesis of CNTs are discussed in this study: i) Arc Discharge; ii) Laser Ablation; iii) Chemical Vapor Deposition; iv) HIPCO process using the Boudard Reactio and; v) surface mediated growth of vertically aligned tubes. The process severity, yield, purity, cost and scale-up considerations are reviewed in particular.

Process design analysis for five different methods for CNT production

239th National Meeting (2010)

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