Plasma Processing of carbon nanomaterials
Résumé
Thermal plasma processes show certain advantages over conventional gas phase synthesis process for the production of carbon nanomaterials. Due to the extreme temperature conditions and the unique flexibility, very different structures can be produced at high selectivity. An overview is given of the three principal families of nanostructures, carbon blacks, fullerenes and nanotubes, produced so far by the original three-phase AC plasma technology presented. Various examples of individual structural types are used to illustrate and explain the multitude of different particle formation processes adjustable in plasma systems. Numerical simulation of arc region, kinetics and fluid dynamics appears as a central tool for the control of the three main process parameters: temperature profile, particle residence time and species concentrations.