Simulation of the equilibrium flow of plasma with the addition of hydrocarbons in the scope of graphene synthesis using a DC plasma torch

Abstract

Graphene synthesis in the helium and argon plasma jets generated by 40 kW DC plasma torch under the pressure 350 Torr is investigated experimentally and by means of the modeling. Propane-butane mixture and methane are used as the carbon feedstock. Scanning microscopy shows that in the case of helium the structure with lateral size up to 500 nm is being synthesized. In the case of argon the morphology of graphene flakes varies from rumpled to rectified sheets with lateral size up to 2 μm. Temperature and velocity profiles are determined for the helium and argon jets using the numerical simulation. Addition of hydrocarbons into the inert plasma jets creates an environments differing in the composition and the charge concentration.