Production of Single-Wall Carbon Nanotubes Using Concentrated Sunlight

Concentrated sunlight was used as an energy source to produce carbon single-wall nanotubes (SWNTs) by co-evaporation of cobalt and carbon in an argon atmosphere. The 10 kW High-Flux Solar Furnace at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory was used to deliver solar radiation to the reaction chamber. Cobalt-doped graphite targets were fabricated from mechanical mixtures of cobalt and graphite, andfrom graphite powders doped by infiltration of Co2 (CO) 8. All targets produced SWNTs, with yields being the highest for the targets produced by infiltration methods. The approach of using concentrated sunlight for synthesis may enable the development of cost-effective and high-yield SWNT production.