Patent · US Expired

Process for the synthesis of fullerenes

US5395496A · kind A · utility

32Cited by
7References
28Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateApr 23, 1993
Grant dateMar 7, 1995
Priority date
Expiry dateApr 23, 2013

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
  • CPC primaryY10S977/843
  • WIPO fieldMaterials, metallurgy
  • WIPO sectorChemistry

Abstract

A process is disclosed to synthesize fullerenes in a plasma reactor. It comprises introducing various amounts of carbon halides as the plasma forming gas in a plasma torch capable of producing a high enough temperature flame to dissociate the carbon bearing molecules into carbon and halogen atoms, hence forming a carbon cloud which condenses into a soot containing fullerenes. Also hydrocarbons can be introduced in the torch as the plasma forming gas and reacted with carbon halides or halogens injected therewith or directly into the plasma flame at the exit of the torch. Moreover, an inert gas, such as helium, may also be used as the plasma forming gas. The process can use a high enthalpy non-transferred d.c. plasma torch or an induction plasma torch as the plasma generating device.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.