Synthesis, laser processing, and flame purification of nanostructured carbon

Initial results are presented here for laser-induced restructuring of nanospheric carbon. Laser fluence is used to control the degree of restructuring. A flame-based oxidation process treats the post-annealed carbon as an aerosol stream to remove unconverted carbon and residual carbon generated at higher laser fluences. The initial carbon nanostructure is shown to direct the annealing process and resulting carbon nanoorganization at the atomic level.