Study of Carbon Nanotube Synthesis and Dispersion using Arc Discharge in Foam Made with a Surfactant

Abstract

Relative to the vacuum method, there are drawbacks to the underwater arc discharge method, including weak discharge intensity, low discharge sustainability, and low production volumes of CNTs. Likewise, there are also disadvantages to the arc discharge method in foam as the method requires additional distillation processes to eliminate the beer foam after the production process in spite of its advantages. This study, therefore, investigates an alternative method by replacing the conventional beer foam, used for the discharge location, with foam made from a surfactant (SDS). Experimental results indicated that CNTs can be produced feasibly and efficiently in the same way as in the conventional beer foam method. Further studies were performed to determine whether CNT synthesis and dispersion processes are carried out simultaneously when the CNTs, produced by the arc discharge in SDS foam, are dispersed in the SDS.