Patent ID: 8071906

Claim:
An apparatus for producing single-wall carbon nanotubes, which comprises: a plasma torch having a plasma tube adapted to receive an inert gas and form an inert gas plasma, said plasma tube having a plasma-discharging end; a feeder comprising a conduit that is disposed inside said plasma tube and that extends substantially coaxially thereof, said conduit having a discharge end disposed at a position chosen from downstream of where said inert gas is introduced into said plasma tube and adjacent to said plasma-discharging end of said plasma tube, said feeder being adapted to direct a carbon-containing substance and a metal catalyst towards said inert gas plasma so that the carbon-containing substance and the metal catalyst contact said inert gas plasma downstream of where said inert gas is introduced in said plasma tube, to thereby form a plasma comprising atoms or molecules of carbon and the atoms of said metal; a heat-resistant tubular member disposed about said plasma tube and extending substantially coaxially thereof; an injector for injecting a further inert gas between said plasma tube and said tubular member to prevent undesirable formation of carbon deposit adjacent to the plasma-discharging end of said plasma tube; and a condenser for condensing the atoms or molecules of carbon and the atoms of said metal to form single-wall carbon nanotubes.