Patent ID: 7846414
Filing Date: 2010-12-07
Classification: B82Y,C01B,Y10S

Abstract:
1. A process for the manufacture of carbon nanostructures, the carbon nanostructures being selected from carbon nanotubes and carbon nano-onions, comprising the steps of a) providing a high enthalpy metal electrode generated direct current thermal plasma torch having a plasma forming gas feed and a cooled nozzle attached thereto, the torch being connected to a cooled reactor having a quenching zone downstream of the plasma torch for the formation of carbon nanostructures; b) selecting a catalyst metal and providing the catalyst metal to the plasma stream, selecting a torch power at a level of from about 30 kW up to a multi-megawatt level, selecting a flow rate for the plasma forming gas feed, and selecting the reactor pressure so as to provide a plasma torch stream temperature required to vaporize and maintain the selected catalyst metal in the vapor state; c) providing a feed of a carbon containing substance and a carrier gas at a selected flow rate to the plasma stream, and d) the resulting plasma stream containing carbon, carrier gas and metal vapor entering the quenching zone of carbon nanostructure formation, wherein the plasma stream is rapidly cooled at a quenching rate of about 10