Large-Scale Production of Single-Walled Carbon Nanotubes Using Ultrafast Pulses from a Free Electron Laser

We report the first use of ultrafast (subpicosecond) laser pulses for large-scale production of single wall carbon nanotubes (SWNT's) by the pulsed laser vaporization (PLV) technique. Very high production rates were achieved; using only 20% of the nominal average power of the 1 kW Jefferson Lab free electron laser (Jlab FEL), carbon soots rich in high quality bundles of SWNT's were produced at ∼1.5 g/h. Accordingly, a novel PLV geometry employing a spinning target and a sonic shearing jet of 1000 °C argon was developed to accommodate the highly energetic Jlab FEL ablation plume. Samples were characterized by scanning electron microscope, atomic force microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, temperature programmed oxidation, and Raman spectroscopy.