Preparation of Carbon Nanoball from Starch by Arc Discharge

Abstract

This paper presents a novel strategy for synthesis of carbon nanomaterials using the Cstaple biomaterials – starch as the starting materials. The carbonhydrate were vaporized by arc under helium, which leads to a large amount of monodispersive carbon nanoballs with range of 30-70nm in diameter. In addition to carbon nanoballs, some carbon nanocapsules were occasionally observed in products. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM), energy dispersive X-ray (EDX) and X-ray diffraction (XRD) were employed to characterizing products. The growth mechanism of carbon nanoballs is discussed briefly in terms of the precursor composition and process parameters.