Experiments of Creating Carbon Nanotubes in Liquid Helium

Abstract

Arc in liquid method has been developed as a cost-effective technique to fabricate various kinds of carbon nanomaterials. In liquid nitrogen, especially high-quality multi-wall carbon nanotubes were observed. So, our research aims at creating carbon nanomaterials using contact arc method in liquid nitrogen and in liquid helium. For this research, a special evaporation cryostat, which has moving parts at low temperature part, is prepared. Experiments in liquid nitrogen were carried out at current density 8kA/cm2, 10kA/cm2, 12kA/cm2 and 14kA/cm2. At current density 10 and 12kA/cm2 ample fibrous carbon nanomaterials could be obtained. Then, based on the results of discharged experiments in liquid nitrogen, productive experiments were done in liquid helium. At that time, in discharged experiments, ample carbon clusters could be observed at current density l0kA/cm2 . Using TEM Imaging, it turn out that these clusters were multi-wall carbon nano-tubes. This is the first observation of creating carbon nanotubes in liquid helium.