Structure of microwave plasma-torch discharge during graphene synthesis from ethanol

Abstract

Abstract Few-layer graphene nanosheets were synthesised from ethanol using a microwave plasma torch. The stability of the discharge permitted us to directly observe and analyse two distinctive structures—a plasma zone and an assembly zone. Important plasma parameters and insights into the chemical processes taking place in these zones were gained using optical emission spectroscopy and digital imaging for a set of experimental conditions. The results of the plasma diagnostics were then correlated with the synthesised material properties, mainly obtained from electron microscopy and Raman spectroscopy.