New synthesis method of fullerenes using microwave-induced naphthalene-nitrogen plasma at atmospheric pressure

Abstract

A new synthesis method of fullerenes has been investigated for microwave induced naphthalene-nitrogen plasma at atmospheric pressure using a cylindrical coaxial cavity. The toluene extract solution of soot obtained after discharges showed HPLC peaks with retention times corresponding well to those of C60 and C70. The production of fullerenes was also confirmed by mass-spectrometric analysis. Gas temperature of nitrogen plasma determined from radiative transitions of N2+ was 3800–5700 K. From a comparison of the gas temperature and the incident microwave power, it was found that the reaction efficiency for fullerenes decreases with the increase in the gas temperature of the plasma and shows a maximum at about 4500 K.