Production of Carbon Nanotubes

■ Based on the electric arc synthesis of SWCNT, technology for production of single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNT) of high purity grade has been developed and realized as a pilot plant. The technology involves the stages of electric arc synthesis of raw SWCNT, and chemical and physical purification of as-produced SWCNT from catalyst and concomitant carbon modifications.
■ The technological module has been developed to produce up to 10 g per day of SWCNT powder of high purity.
■ The developed technology provides a high degree (>30%) of nanotubes recovery from raw SWCNT.

 
Automated module "Carbon-Chg" for electric arc synthesis «"Carbon-Chg"»

Specific features of SWCNT technology:

►The use of the reactor for the electric arc synthesis of special design provides semi-automatic control of the process. The special design allowed the yield of condensation products to be increased to ~ 30% of the evaporated electrode, and high quality of raw SWCNT to be retained (up to 20-25 wt.% of SWCNT). The reactor design has been patented in Russia.

►The use of the complex procedure of raw SWCNT purification includes:

• efficient method of chemical purification of raw SWCNT from the catalyst and carbon admixtures;
• efficient method of physical separation of the nanotube fraction of carbon from nanoparticles of another morphology and chemical composition;
• combination of chemical and physical purification methods to attain a high degree of nanotubes recovery from raw SWCNT;
• special methods of intermediates treatment allow the preparation of the final form of SWCNT product in high-dispersed state.