Document 
Eur. Phys. J. Appl. Phys. 32, 177-185 (2005)
DOI: 10.1051/epjap:2005094
Characterization of carbon and iron nanostructures synthesized by the DC arc discharge method: influence of the location in the reactor and of the pressure
A. Fnidiki1, D. Lemarchand1, E. Talbot1 and H. Pascard21 Groupe de Physique des Matériaux, UMR CNRS 6634, Institut des Matériaux de Rouen, Université de Rouen, avenue de l'Université, BP 12, 76801 Saint-Étienne du Rouvray, France
2 Laboratoire des Solides Irradiés, UMR CNRS 7642, DRECAM-CEA, École Polytechnique, route de Saclay, 91128 Palaiseau, France
abdeslem.fnidiki@univ-rouen.fr
(Received: 1st October 2004 / Received in final form: 17 June 2005 / Accepted: 20 July 2005 / Published online: 14 December 2005)
Abstract
X-ray diffraction, Mössbauer spectroscopy, Scanning Electron Microscopy
(SEM) and Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM) techniques were used to
characterize the Fe-C phases in the soots synthesized by the DC arc
discharge method. Various equilibrium and non-equilibrium Fe-C compounds
were identified, with fractions depending on both the location in the
reactor and the helium gas pressure. The soots obtained are composed of the
same five phases (C-graphite, 
-Fe, 
-Fe, Fe3C and
Fe5C2) whatever the helium gas pressure and wherever they are
situated in the reactor. However, the location in the reactor has a
considerable influence on the size of the particles in the nanostructure.
The Fe-C compounds in the Pyrex vessel samples (CL) seem only to be present
in the form of nanoparticles embedded in an amorphous gangue, while the
water-cooled copper cylinder samples (RS) contain, in addition to these
nanoparticles, large composite crystalline particles.
52.80.Mg - Arcs; sparks; lightning; atmospheric electricity.
81.05.Uw - Carbon, diamond, graphite.
61.18.Fs - Magnetic resonance techniques; Mössbauer spectroscopy.
61.46.+w - Nanoscale materials: clusters, nanoparticles, nanotubes, and nanocrystals.
61.10.Nz - X-ray diffraction.
© EDP Sciences 2005