SINGLE-WALLED CARBON NANOTUBES GROWING RADIALLY FROM YC2 PARTICLES

In the primary soot produced by arc discharge using an yttrium carbide loaded anode, bundles of single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWT) are observed, protruding radially from YC2 particles coated with graphitic multilayers. The graphitic cages separating YC2 particle and SWT bundles fall into the narrow range of 10-20 layers. The morphology of the clusters suggests a two-step growth model: The radial SWT growth pattern is first initiated by catalytic action between the YC2 droplet and the carbon in the gas phase. Second, and upon cooling, the graphitic cage starts by segregating excess carbon from the YC2 bulk, arresting further growth of SWT.