Production of carbon single wall nanotubes versus experimental parameters

Bundles of carbon single wall nanotubes (SWNTs) are produced by sublimating selected metal mixtures and carbon in an inert atmosphere during an electric arc [1]. Various experimental parameters such as the nature and relative proportions of metallic catalysts [1] or the kind and pressure of gas can influence the quantity and geometry of bundles produced by the arc process. In this paper, we particularly focus on the role of the nature and pressure of gas used. Systematic studies have been made and we present the results obtained by Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), High Resolution Transmission Electron Microscopy (HRTEM), X-Ray Diffraction (XRD) and High Resolution Raman Spectroscopy (HRRS).