Pentagonal and heptagonal carbon-rings in growth of nanosize graphitic carbon spheres

Abstract

Fullerene C60 and nano-tubes are a group of unique structures of carbon. These structures are producei using a carbon electrode arc-discharge technique, but it has not been successful in producing carbon spheres Recently, a new mixed-valent oxide-catalytic carbonization (MVOCC) process has been invented that can b used to synthesize monodispersed nano-size graphitic carbon spheres at low cost and with large quantities [3] The carbon spheres were produced at 1100° C by decomposition of natural gas (methane) under the catalytic assistance of transitional/rare earth metal oxides with mixed valences. The product is pure and separated fron the catalyst, thus, no purification is needed. The MVOCC process does not produce any environmenta hazardous chemicals, and the catalyst is reusable. The carbon spheres are expected to have extraordinary mechanical, physical and chemical properties and potential applications in the areas such as high-strengfi composite materials, environmental filtering, catalysis, lubrication and surface coating.