ction coefficient using optical properties of carbon nano tubes (CNTs) Analysis of e K.R. Nemade, S.A. Waghuley Department of Physics, ‘Sant Gadge Baba Amravati University, Amravati-444602, INDIA e-mail: sandeepwaghuley@sgbau.ac.in Abstract In this investigation, the simple and inexpensive arc discharge in liquid medium has been used for the production of carbon nanotubes (CNTs). CNTs were synthesized by using arc discharge method. The diccharge was take place betwcen two cloctrodes immersed in 0.3M sodium chloride solution. The different experimental parameters such as voltage, current, catalyst concentration, and NaCI solution were investigated. The cobalt was use as a catalyst. The CNTs were characterized by using UV-Vis analysis to know the optical properties. The extinction coefficient was found to be increases with the increase in wavelength. Keywords: Extinction coefficient; Optical properties; CNTs. 1. Introduction Nanotubes are the members belory lo fullerene structural family. They have a name due to their long, hollow structure with the walls formed by one-atom-thick sheets of carbon. The carbon thick sheet is called graphene. These sheets are rolled at specific and discrete angles, and the combination of the rolling angle and radius decides the nanotube properties. CNTs have been first time reported by lijima [1]. Laser ablation [2], chemical vapour deposition (CCVD) [3] and electric arc discharge [4, 5] are conventional methods for synthesis of CNTs. Electric arc discharge in liquid environment is first used by Hsin ot al [6] in water in 1991. This simplified method is adopted without requirement of expensive noble gases, high temperature furnace and vacuum equipments [7]. Since then, benzene, toluene [8] and the liquid nitrogen [9-11] are used as liquid environment. Salt solution can be act as the liquid environment in order to improve electrical conductivity of solution [12]. CNTs have many applications like electronic, electrochemical etc [13]. The present study devoted to the synthesis of CNTs by using arc discharge method. The discharge is take place between two electrodes immersed in 0.3M sodium chloride solutions. The different experimental parameters such as voltage, current, catalyst concentration, and NaCl solution are studied. The CNTs are characterized by using UV- Vis analysis to know the optical properties. 2. Experimental The AR chemicals are used In the present work. CNTs were successfully synthesized by using an electric arc discharge apparatus. The side view of experimental set-up shown in Fig. 1. Penne Sen neeFig. 1 Side view of experimental set-up of electric arc discharge method. The cet-up consists of two pure graphite electrodes submerged in 500 mi of NaCl solutions in a glass container. The DC power supply is given to them through computer controlled constant current power supply, level controller and digital DAC. The diameters of the anode and the cathode were 16mm. Anode was drilled with 4 mm in diameter and 3 cm of the depth and the hole was filled with graphite powder mixed with Co as catalyst. Immersed electrodes vertically into a 9 cm of the depth in an open glass beaker. NaCI solution is an ideal liquid environment for synthesizing carbon nanostructures because the cooling ability of NaCl solution is better than deionised water and it is cheaper than liquid nitrogen. Initially touch both electrodes to each other such that the arc will produce and immediately separate them at a distance of 1mm. In this work product dropped at the bottom of the glace beaker, few deposited on the cathodes cavity and little soot was also found on the surface of the liquid. The several experimental parameters like voltage, current, catalyst concentration and NaCl solution molarities were tested using Co as a catalyst. Voltage varied from 20 to 25V while different NaCl molarities (0.2, 0.25 and 0.3 molar (M)) to synthesized CNTs. The experimental set up kept at atmospheric pressure. Initially, the temperature of the NaCl solution is 28°C, The purification was done by washing raw materials several times with distilled water in order to decrease the NaCI concentration. The UV-Vis analysis was done by UV-Vis Spectrophotometer (Shimadzu- UV-1700 Pharma Spec). 3. Results and discussion UV-Vis analysis, observed the optical properties of the CNTs. The spectrum shows the intense absorption at 204 nm and shown in fig.2. At lower wavelengths edge absorption represents the quantum confinement effect [13] present in the synthesized CNTs. The relation between absorption coefficient («) and incident photon energy (hv) is expressed as Ea. (1). a=A(hv-E,)"/hv (1) where A is constant and E, is the band gap of the material [14]. The exponent n depends on the type of the transition. Its value is 1 for direct band gap and 2 for indirect band gap. The exact values of direct and indirect bands are determined by extrapolating the straight-line portion of (ahy) versus hy graph to the hv axis. The band gap of CNT is 5.27eV as shown in fig 3. baerWavelength (am) Fig. 2. UV-VIS spectrum of CNTs dispersed in aqueous medium, 2 10 3 4 8G Optical band gap (eV) Fig. 8. Plot of variation af (ah) as a function af photon energy The extinction coefficient (K) is a measure of the fraction of light lost due to scattering and absorption per unit distance of the penetration medium. The extinction coefficient is computed in the sample during the exposure of UV spectra from % absorption and wavelength using the relation [1]. Extinction coefficient (K) is as in as Eq. (2). x=% (2) where, a is % absorption and 4 wavelength. The variation of extinction coefficient as a function of wavelength is shown in fig. 4. Estinctoncefleent (5) sore R 2m san 400500 ste waren cy Fig.4, Plot of extinction coefficient versus wavelength, nea eeFig. 4. indicates the direct dependence of extinction coefficient on the wavelength. The behavior of the extinction coefficient is very similar to the corresponding transmission spectra. The extinction coefficient was found to be increases with the increase in wavelength. This may be due to the maximum fraction of light scattered or absorbed. 4, Conclusions The arc discharge method is very simple method for the synthesis of CNTs. This work focuses the attention of researchers to synthesize the CNTs by using cobalt as a catalyst. The UV-Vis reveals that the extinction coefficient was observe to he increase with wavelength. The band gap of CNT was found to be 5.27eV. This band gap is very well agreed with studies reported by many researchers. 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