Single-walled carbon
nanotubes are produced by an automated beam-scanning system which rasters
a pulsed Nd:YAG laser beam over the surface of composite pellets which nominally
contain 1 at. % each of Ni and Co, in addition to 98% carbon or graphite.
Long-pulse laser vaporization (free-running mode) produces different material
than nanosecond pulse (Q-switched mode) laser vaporization. The ablation yield
is roughly equal in both cases, however the SWNT fractional yield and purifiability
is higher in the long-pulse mode. Spectroscopic diagnostic measurements are
in progress to understand why.
Back to