Effect of process parameters on the thermal plasma production of fullerenes

Fullerenes were produced by the thermal plasma dissociation of C₂Cl₄ via the PyroGenesis process. A plasma reactor, equipped with a non-transferred d.c. plasma torch was used to dissociate C₂Cl₄, thus forming a reactive cloud of C and a atoms and molecules. By controlling the reactor conditions, some carbon atoms recombine to form fullerenes in a soot which condenses on the water-cooled reactor wall. This paper describes the effect of various operating parameters on fullerene production.