Carbon nanotubes and other fullerenes produced from tire powder injected into an electric arc

A novel method of growing multiwall carbon nanotubes by injecting tire powder into an electric arc has been developed. The process is optimized using a DC electric arc in pressurized helium. The multiwall carbon nanotube product and the optimization process are characterized by transmission electron microscopy. (c) 2005 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.