Formation of multi-shelled carbon nanoparticles by arc discharge in liquid benzene

'Arc in liquid' method is a cost-effective technique lately proposed to fabricate carbon nanomaterials, which does not require vacuum facilities. Currently, it is demanded to examine the effect of liquid components on the products synthesized by this method. In this study, liquid benzene (C6H6) was used in the 'arc in liquid' method. As a result, multi-shelled nanoparticles of diameter 10-30 nm were found in the deposits formed between electrodes, in which highly curled graphitic structure seemed majority. Importantly, CNTs are not formed in this condition, which is different from arc in water or liquid nitrogen. In addition, it was confirmed that fullerene was not produced by the present condition. (C) 2004 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.