Regularities of self-organization of technological conditions during plasma-arc synthesis of carbon nanotubes

Abstract

The emerging concept of self-organization under conditions of plasma-surface interaction is reflected in the present analytical study of the processes and causes of carbon nanotube formation in anodic arc discharge. Based on the energy balance and the interelectrode mass transfer, we created a mathematical model of self-organization of technological conditions required for carbon nanotube synthesis. The self-organization regularities of such parameters as carbon concentration, relative supersaturation above the growth surface and the surface temperatures of both electrodes have been determined by the phase portrait method. Unique possibilities of self-organized processes have revealed the ways of maintaining required synthesis stationarity. It has been shown that extremely low supersaturation of deposited vapors, substance accumulation above the growth surface and exposure to plasma are important factors for carbon nanotube formation. The structure formation mechanism under conditions of self-organized low supersaturation has been discussed. The stated self-organization regularities are also expected to take place in other fields of plasma nanoscience.