Title :
Pulsed corona discharge as a source of hydrogen and carbon nanotube production
Author :
Mishra, Lekha Nath ; Shibata, Kanetoshi ; Ito, Hiroaki ; Yugami, Noboru ; Nishida, Yasushi
Author_Institution :
Energy & Environ. Sci. Graduate Sch. of Eng., Utsunomiya Univ., Tichigi, Japan
Abstract :
Experiments are performed to develop a pulsed corona plasma system for the production of hydrogen and carbon nanotubes (CNTs), directly by methane decomposition, at atmospheric pressure (≃760 torr). The corona discharge is energized by a pulse voltage (≤7 kV) with pulsewidth 12 μs at a repetition rate of about 1 kHz. The simultaneous measurement of both hydrogen gas and CNTs within nonthermal methane discharge at atmospheric pressure are presented. The influences of argon gas on the production rate of hydrogen have also been studied. Resistivity 0.15 Ωcm of CNTs is observed with the help of a four-probe method. The structural geometry of the CNT is observed by transmission electron microscope (TEM). The soot that comes out of the discharge is collected from the cathode. The present experimental technique could be useful for the mass production of future energy source providing by hydrogen cells and the nanoelectronics.
Keywords :
carbon nanotubes; corona; hydrogen; nanoelectronics; plasma chemistry; plasma materials processing; transmission electron microscopy; 0.15 ohmcm; 12 mus; 7 kV; C; H2; carbon nanotube production; cathode; energy source mass production; four-probe method; hydrogen cells; hydrogen source; methane decomposition; nanoelectronics; pulsed corona discharge; transmission electron microscope; Atmospheric-pressure plasmas; Carbon nanotubes; Corona; Fault location; Hydrogen; Plasma measurements; Plasma sources; Production systems; Space vector pulse width modulation; Voltage; CNTs; Carbon nanotubes; TEM; corona discharge; hydrogen; methane decomposition; pulse voltage; transmission electron microscope;
Journal_Title :
Plasma Science, IEEE Transactions on
DOI :
10.1109/TPS.2004.831591