Plasmatron with Renewable Carbon Nanostructured Covering of Electrodes

Abstract

DC arc air plasmatron with long life electrodes protected by hydrocarbon gas was developed and tested. Atoms and ions of carbon from near-electrode plasma deposit on the active surface of the electrodes and form electrode carbon condensate which operates as “actual” electrode. The electrode condensate was examined using Raman spectroscopy, scanning and transmission electron microscopy. It is found that the electrode condensate is composite carbonic stuff made of carbon nano-clusters which consists mainly of single and multi-wall carbon nanotubes and other carbonic forms including some quantity of the copper atoms intercalated to the carbonic matrix.

Keywords

• plasmatron
• hydrocarbon gas
• electrode
• carbon nanostucture.