Carbon nanomaterials synthesized by arc discharge hot plasma

Carbon nanomaterials have attracted enormous attention due to the ever-growing demand for nanoelectronics, energy conversion and storage, and nanosensors. Since the breakthrough in quantitative C60 synthesis using arc discharge method, low-dimensional allotropes known as carbon nanomaterials, such as carbon nanotubes (CNTs), graphene, etc., have been produced effectively via the arc discharge hot plasma between graphite electrodes in an inert gas atmosphere, which is critical for producing high density carbon vapor needed for the synthesis of carbon nanomaterials. However, the low-cost and controllable growth of carbon nanomaterials still remains a big challenge. Herein, we highlight important advances in carbon nanomaterials synthesized by direct current arc discharge method, including single-walled CNTs (SWCNTs) with controlled diameter, length and electronic properties, low-cost SWCNTs, double-walled CNTs, multi-walled CNTs and graphene. The current challenges and future prospects for carbon nanomaterials are also discussed.