Effect of process parameters on the thermal plasma production of fullerenes

Fullerenes were produced by the thermal plasma dissociation of C2Cl4 via the PyroGenesis process. A plasma reactor, equipped with a nontransferred d.c. plasma torch was used to dissociate C2Cl4, thus forming a reactive cloud of C and CI atoms and molecules. By controlling the reactor conditions, some carbon atoms recombine to form fullerenes in a soot which condenses on the water-cooled reactor wall. This paper describes the effect of various operating parameters on fullerene production.