Fullerene blacks and cathode deposits derived from plasma arcing of graphite with naphthalene

Fullerene black and cathode deposits formed by arcing graphite with naphthalene have been examined. Micro-Raman, transmission electron microscopy and differential thermal analysis show that fullerene blacks produced in the presence of naphthalene are more graphite like than those prepared in its absence. These techniques also show that the cathode deposits are altered by the presence of naphthalene in the feed material. The mixture of nanotubes so formed has a larger average void size than that formed in the absence of naphthalene. The results support proposed mechanisms of nanotube formation that involve growth by incorporation of carbon atoms into open tubes. They also show that naphthalene can be directly incorporated into fullerene black and thereby increase the number of hexagonal sheet structures in the carbon deposit.