Systematic investigation of sustained laser-induced incandescence in carbon nanotubes

Abstract

A focused laser beam irradiating on aligned carbon nanotubes (CNTs) in moderate vacuum results in bright and sustained laser-induced incandescence (LII) in CNTs. The incandescence corresponds to blackbody radiation from laser-heated CNTs at ∼2400 K. Post-LII craters with well-defined ring boundaries in the CNT array were observed and examined with scanning electron microscopy and Raman spectroscopy. The enhanced purity of CNTs after LII as indicated by Raman spectroscopy studies was attributed to the removal of amorphous carbons on the as-grown CNTs during LII. A dynamic study of the crater formation further elucidates the nature of such craters. Through a systematic study of the effect of vacuum level and gaseous environment on LII, we discovered the process of thermal runaway during LII in CNTs. Thermal runaway is a threat to a sustained LII and can be prevented in nitrogen and argon environments. Oxygen was found to be responsible for thermal runaway reactions. © 2010 American Institute of Physics.