Fullerenes Synthesis Using Fabricated Arc Discharge System with Relatively Large Chamber Size

Arc discharge technique is still one of the popular techniques for producing fullerenes. This work describes an arc discharge installation with a chamber size of 140 mm diameter and 500 mm length that is able to produce fullerenes. Fullerenes solid was extracted from carbon soot collected from the arc discharge system at various experimental conditions of discharge current and chamber pressure using the solvent extraction technique. Fullerenes yield of up to 6 to 8 % was extracted from the fabricated discharge system which was higher when compared to the 3-4 % yield produced by an arc discharge system of 100 mm diameter and 200 mm length. The fabricated discharge system gave the best fullerenes percentage yield of 8 % at arc current of 150 A and 100 Torr of chamber pressure. Increase in inert atmosphere from 100 to 200 Torr on the amount of carbon soot vapourization but inhibited the percentage fullerenes yield from 8 to 6 %. Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) and Ultraviolet Visible (UV-Vis) Spectroscopy analysis carried out on all fullerenes solid extracted revealed the presence of fullerenes. The fabricated arc discharge system suggests that large chamber size could promote the formation the synthesis of fullerenes.