Synthesis of Single-Walled Carbon Nanotubes by Pulsed Wire Discharge

Experimental studies have been carried out to produce single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) by pulsed wire discharge (PWD). To prepare soot, carbon fibers were discharged in nitrogen gas by PWD. Soot was collected after the discharge and was observed by means of high-resolution transmission electron microscopy. In the soot collected, we found SWCNTs of 1.2 nm in diameter. On the basis of these results, we have concluded that PWD could be a novel SWCNTs synthesis method.