Patent ID: 8834827
Filing Date: 2014-09-16
Classification: B82Y,C01B,C30B

Abstract:
1. A method of producing single-walled carbon nanotubes in a reactor, the method comprising: (a) creating a plasma zone in a radio frequency (RF) inductively coupled plasma torch between a torch body and a central hollow probe of the plasma torch, the central hollow probe extending in an axial direction, wherein a stabilizing gas is introduced into the plasma torch to stabilize the plasma zone; (b) extending the plasma zone through a reactor body to produce a stable induction plasma in the reactor body to provide a continuous single source of heat and plasma conditions in the reactor body, the reactor body coupled in the axial direction to the torch body of the plasma torch, wherein a sheath gas is introduced into the plasma torch and extended into the reactor body to promote laminar flow in the reactor body to maintain the stable induction plasma; (c) providing the reactor body with a refractory insert tube having a pre-determined length, diameter, thickness and thermal conductivity to maintain temperatures and control temperature gradients produced by the induction plasma in the reactor body that favor production of C2 and/or C3 single-walled carbon nanotube precursors from the carbonaceous reactants, wherein the induction plasma is the sole source of heat in the reactor body; (d) feeding a catalyst and carbonaceous reactants into the central hollow probe along with a carrier gas for axial delivery of the carrier gas, catalyst and carbonaceous reactants into the plasma zone and then to the reactor body to produce single-walled carbon nanotubes from the reactants in the reactor body; (e) quenching growth of the single-walled carbon nanotubes in a quenching body, the quenching body coupled to the reactor body with the reactor body disposed between the torch body and the quenching body.