Large-scale synthesis of polyynes with commercial laser marking technology

Abstract

The space-confined synthesis method has been an efficient way for the preparation of linear carbon chains. However, the large-scale preparation of linear carbon chains still faces many challenges due to the lack of methods for the large-scale synthesis of precursors, such as short carbon chains (polyynes), and regulation technology for the transport of reactants in one-dimensional space. Here, we report a facile method for the rapid preparation of polyynes in large quantities using a commercial laser marking machine. Spectroscopic characterizations show that a large number of polyynes, such as C8H2, C10H2, C12H2, and C14H2, can be produced by ablating the graphite plate immersed in the organic liquid using a laser marking machine. The results of in situ Raman spectroscopy investigation of C2n H2-filled single-walled carbon nanotubes further confirm that a variety of polyyne molecules are synthesized. Meanwhile, in situ Raman spectroscopy also shows that the local heating treatment can accelerate the filling process of C2n H2 into one-dimensional channels. This work provides new insights into the study of linear carbon chains and space-confined synthesis methods.