A method and apparatus for high-throughput controlled synthesis of fullerenes and endohedral metal fullerenes

Abstract

A method for synthesis of carbon nanostructures in a high-frequency arc discharge in the flow of helium (3–4 L/min) is presented. It is shown that the plasma-chemical synthesis of fullerenes and endohedral metal fullerenes (EMFs) can be controlled by changing helium pressure in the chamber. Temperature and electron concentration along the line normal to the discharge axis decrease upon moving away from the axis to the periphery; the larger the pressure, the sharper is the decrease in these parameters. The optimal helium pressure of 98 kPa was found in obtaining the Gd@C₈₂ EMF which corresponds to the maximal EMF yield of 5 wt %.