IUVSTA 15th International Vacuum Congress (IVC-15), AVS 48th International Symposium (AVS-48), 11th International Conference on Solid Surfaces (ICSS-11)
    Nanotubes: Science and Applications Topical Conference Tuesday Sessions
       Session NT+EL+NS-TuM

Paper NT+EL+NS-TuM10
The Effect of Photon Energy, Average Power, and Repetition Rate on Nanotube Synthesis Using a Free Electron Laser

Tuesday, October 30, 2001, 11:20 am, Room 133

Session: Nanotubes: Growth and Characterization
Presenter: B.C. Holloway, College of William & Mary
Authors: B.C. Holloway, College of William & Mary
A.D. Friedman, College of William & Mary
M.W. Smith, NASA Langley Research Center
C.K.W. Adu, Pennsylvania State University
A.L. Loper, Pennsylvania State University
B.K. Pradham, Pennsylvania State University
G. Chen, Pennsylvania State University
S. Bhattacharyya, Pennsylvania State University
P.C. Eklund, Pennsylvania State University
J.E. Fisher, University of Pennsylvania
Correspondent: Click to Email
The free electron laser (FEL) located at Thomas Jefferson National Accelerator Facility (Jlab) was used to produce single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWNTs) by laser vaporization of a catalyzed carbon target. The Jlab FEL offers the advantage of a high power (~1000 Watts maximum average power), tunable (~2-7 micron), high repetition rate (MHz) photon source where parameters can be varied rather easily compared to tabletop systems. Initial experiments with the FEL show that, under the appropriate conditions, large soot generation rates (>10 mg/min) with high SWNT yield are possible . In addition raman scattering and high resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM) of the FEL-produced material shows novel properties such as larger tube diameters, smaller bundle sizes, and interesting variations with carbon target catalyst composition. While the FEL operating conditions and synthesis system design have not yet been optimized, the potential for large scale production of SWNTS and/or "diameter tuning" using an FEL will also be discussed. Work supported by DARPA, ARO, NSF, and NASA.