JPH1045407A - Apparatus for synthesizing fullerene and the like and method therefor - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a synthesizing apparatus capable of subjecting an electric discharge vessel to elevation vibration, synchronously modulating arc discharge currents in synchronization at the slight gravity and zero gravity time arising therefrom to suppress thermal convection and executing the synthesis of fullerene, etc., with high efficiency. SOLUTION: This synthesizing apparatus 100 forms the fullerene, etc., by packing gaseous helium into the evacuated electric discharge vessel 13 and subjecting a pair of carbon electrode rods 21, 23 arranged to face each other to the arc discharge. In such a case, the electric discharge vessel 13 is mounted elevatably at guide members arranged perpendicularly at an elevation tower. The electric discharge vessel 13 is connected to an elevation driving means 30 which imparts the elevation vibration to the vessel. In addition, the vessel has a detecting means for detecting the slight gravity and zero gravity by the elevation vibration of the electric discharge vessel 13. Further, the vessel has a current control section IC for inputting the detection information of the slight gravity and zero gravity of the detecting means. This current control section IC synchronously modulates the arc discharge current I in tune with the slight gravity and zero gravity of the electric discharge vessel 13. As a result, the thermal convection at the time of the arc discharge is suppressed and the synthesis of the fullerene, etc., is executed with the high efficiency.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an apparatus and a method for synthesizing fullerenes and the like by arc discharge.
In synchronization with microgravity or weightlessness generated by this,
The arc discharge current is modulated synchronously to suppress thermal convection and improve the efficiency of fullerene synthesis.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Fullerene C60 contained in soot is composed of a new shape of carbon molecules and is used for electronics, catalysts and the like. A DC arc discharge method is an efficient method for synthesizing the fullerene. In this specific fullerene synthesizing apparatus 10, as shown in FIG. 13, metal tubes 3 and 5 are arranged opposite to each other in a vacuum chamber 1, and the metal tubes 3 and 5 are arranged.
Through the carbon rods 7 and 9, the ends thereof are opposed at predetermined intervals.

In a state where the space E in the evacuated chamber 1 is filled with helium gas, a DC voltage is applied between the carbon electrode rods 7 and 9 to cause an arc discharge to generate an arc flame A. At this time, the carbon electrode rod 7 on the plus side is heated and evaporates to become atomic carbon, which is blown upward by thermal convection in the chamber 1 and collides with helium gas in the air to cause a chemical reaction between carbons. As a result, carbon molecules called fullerene C60 are generated, and many of them are attached to the upper wall 1A of the chamber 1 as soot. The positive side carbon electrode rod 7 is heated and evaporated, and the negative side carbon electrode rod 9 is heated.
The positive carbon electrode rod 7 is sent out to the negative carbon electrode rod 9 by the feed control means 11 of the motor drive so as not to increase the gap between the carbon electrode rod 7 and the carbon electrode rod 9.

[0004]

According to the fullerene synthesizing apparatus 10 using the direct current arc discharge, since the arc discharge occurs in an environment under static gravity where gravity acts, the convection of the helium gas causes the fullerene synthesis device 10 to operate at a high temperature. The collision synthesis time between carbons is limited. This state is shown in FIG. Usually, there is a problem that under the gravity, the synthesis rate of fullerene is greatly reduced.

Therefore, the inventors of the present application have made experiments based on the following theory. First, if thermal convection can be suppressed under microgravity, carbon particles move by thermal diffusion in a multiple collision system, and carbon molecules accumulate in a high-temperature plasma region for a long time.
As a result, the high-temperature carbon synthesis reaction time is prolonged, and effective synthesis of higher-order (high-molecular-weight) fullerene and metal-encapsulated fullerene can be expected. According to the experimental results, as shown in FIG. 12, thermal convection is suppressed in zero gravity, and the shape difference of the arc flame A is estimated under normal gravity and zero gravity conditions.

The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned problems in the conventional apparatus for synthesizing fullerenes by a DC arc discharge and a method for solving the problems, and raises and lowers the vibration of the discharge vessel to synchronize the arc with the microgravity or zero gravity generated thereby. It is an object of the present invention to provide a synthesizing apparatus and a synthesizing method capable of synthesizing fullerene or the like with high efficiency by suppressing discharge convection by synchronously modulating a discharge current.

[0007]

According to the present invention, in order to achieve the above object, a synthesizing apparatus for fullerene or the like according to claim 1 fills a evacuated discharge vessel with helium gas,
In a synthesizing apparatus for generating fullerene or the like by arc discharge of a pair of opposed carbon electrode rods, the discharge vessel is mounted on a guide member vertically arranged on a lifting tower or the like so as to be able to move up and down, and the discharge vessel is vibrated vertically. Along with the lifting drive means provided with, a detection means for detecting microgravity or weightlessness due to the vertical vibration of the discharge vessel,
Furthermore, a current control unit for inputting detection information on microgravity or weightlessness of the detection means is provided, and the current control unit is synchronized with microgravity or weightlessness of the discharge vessel, and synchronously modulates an arc discharge current. Is what you do.

According to the first aspect of the present invention, the discharge vessel is guided by the guide member vertically disposed on the elevating tower or the like, and is subjected to up-down vibration by the up-down driving means to generate up-down vibration. This allows the discharge vessel to
It reaches a peak by a parabolic motion (ballistic motion), and becomes a state of microgravity or weightlessness over the section of the subsequent natural falling motion. The state of microgravity or zero gravity is repeatedly detected by the detecting means in synchronization with the vertical vibration. Based on this detection information, the current control unit synchronizes with the microgravity or zero gravity of the discharge vessel and repeatedly and synchronously modulates the arc discharge current. Thus, during the period of occurrence of the microgravity or weightlessness, the arc discharge current is synchronously modulated to flow, and the arc discharge is repeatedly performed in the microgravity state of the discharge vessel in which thermal convection is suppressed, thereby efficiently generating fullerene and the like. Do.

[0009] Further, by the elevating tower and the elevating drive means,
The discharge vessel that is vibrated up and down repeatedly performs parabolic motion (ballistic motion), so that the zero gravity time per height is twice as long as a simple fall. As a result, the high-temperature carbon synthesis reaction time is prolonged, and effective synthesis of higher-order (high-molecular-weight) fullerene and metal-encapsulated fullerene can be expected.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a fullerene or other synthesizing apparatus according to the first aspect of the present invention, wherein the discharge vessel is connected to the lifting / lowering driving means by a cord such as a wire rope with an elastic body interposed therebetween. Further, the detecting means detects a minute tension or no tension by tension / relaxation of the cord body.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, the wire rope with the elastic body interposed therebetween is caused to raise and lower vibration by the raising and lowering driving means with respect to the discharge vessel. As a result, the discharge vessel is accelerated by the elastic force of the elastic body during the upward acceleration, and after this acceleration, the tension of the wire rope interposed by the elastic body disappears, causing a parabolic motion (ballistic motion), and a very small section of natural fall. It becomes a state of gravity or weightlessness. When the discharge vessel falls, the shock of the discharge vessel is softened by the cushioning action of the elastic body, and the discharge vessel is decelerated. Here, the stored energy contributes to the rising acceleration of the discharge vessel in the next cycle. Further, the detection of the microgravity or zero-gravity state generated in the discharge vessel is easily performed by a method of indirectly detecting the repeated tension / relaxation of the wire rope, which is the cord engaged with the detection means.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method for producing fullerene or the like by filling a evacuated discharge vessel with helium gas and causing a pair of opposed carbon electrode rods to perform an arc discharge. In the method, a discharge vessel arranged in a lifting tower or the like is vertically vibrated by a vertical drive means, and synchronously modulates an arc discharge current in a pulsed manner in synchronization with microgravity or zero gravity repeatedly generated by the vertical vibration of the discharge vessel. It is characterized by

According to the third aspect of the present invention, the discharge vessel is vibrated up and down by the elevation drive means, and the microgravity or weightless state is repeatedly generated in the discharge vessel by the elevation vibration.
By controlling the heat convection of the arc discharge under this weightlessness,
The carbon particles move by thermal diffusion in the multiple collision system, and the carbon molecules stay in the high-temperature plasma region for a long time. As a result, the high-temperature carbon synthesis reaction time becomes longer, and high-order (high-molecular-weight) fullerene and metal-encapsulated fullerene can be effectively synthesized.

[0014]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Embodiments of the apparatus for synthesizing fullerenes and the like and the method thereof according to the present invention will be specifically described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 shows a fullerene or other synthesizing apparatus 1 according to the present invention.
FIG. 9 is a schematic diagram showing an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is an embodiment showing a specific example of a lifting / lowering drive unit for raising / lowering the discharge vessel and a detection unit for detecting zero gravity.

First, in FIG. 1, a synthesis apparatus 100 for the above fullerene or the like is provided with a discharge vessel (for example, a diameter of about 11.4 cm,
Metal tubes 15 and 17 are arranged opposite to each other in 13 (height: 18 cm, volume: 1.6 liters, weight: 6.0 kg). Are arranged at predetermined intervals. And 10
^-2 Vacuum space E in the discharge vessel 13 evacuated to Torr or less
Is filled with helium gas at about 300 Torr.
Even after the start of discharge due to the contact between the carbon electrode rods 21 and 23, the DC current I from the current control unit IC connected to the DC power supply unit DE is applied.

The discharge vessel 13 is suspended by an elastic body 3 made of rubber or the like, and is forcibly moved up and down in a vertical direction by an up-and-down driving means 30 described later. In the discharge vessel 13, a section of parabolic motion (ballistic motion) from just before the rising end to just before the falling end in the amplitude of the vertical vibration is in a state of microgravity. As shown in FIG. 13, it has been confirmed that thermal convection does not occur in the helium gas at the time of the microgravity, and the microgravity of the discharge vessel 13 is detected by the detecting means 40 (described later). Only the current control unit IC controls the current by supplying a pulsed DC current I so that a DC arc discharge occurs.

Next, referring to FIG. 2, a specific embodiment of the lifting drive means 30 for forcibly raising and lowering the discharge vessel 13 suspended by an elastic body 3 such as rubber in the vertical direction will be described. First, the elevating tower (vertical oscillating steel tower) 20 has a height of 12 mm.
It is one meter above ground. The discharge vessel 1
3 is two guide members 2 arranged vertically on the elevating tower 20
5, 27 are attached so as to be able to move up and down. The discharge vessel 13 includes two pulleys 31 and 3 in which a string 7 tied to a wire rope 5 with an elastic body 3 interposed is disposed above a lifting tower 20.
It is bent up and down by 2, and its tip is connected to lifting drive means 30 arranged on the ground 1.

The lifting drive means 30 is, for example, an electric winch 30A or a pneumatic piston. The electric winch 30A controls the forward / reverse rotation of the hoist drum 30B by the motor M and the speed thereof, and forcibly raises and lowers the discharge vessel 13 in the vertical direction via the elastic body 3. When the discharge vessel 13 is wound up by the electric winch 30A,
First, the elastic body 3 is stretched and stretched, and receives a sudden rising acceleration. Thus, the rapidly accelerated discharge vessel is in a state in which the elastic body 3 is slackened, and as shown in FIG. 4, rises in a section L1 of natural levitation (inertial levitation) by parabolic motion (ballistic motion) while maintaining zero gravity. And reach the top. Subsequently, when the section L2 of the free fall motion starts, the electric winch 3 is adjusted in accordance with the falling speed of the discharge vessel to loosen the wire rope 5.
0A is reversed, and the wire rope 5 is pulled out by being pulled by the discharge vessel. Thus, the discharge vessel maintains a state of microgravity or zero gravity over the section L (L1 + L2).

The discharge vessel 13 stretches the elastic body 3 near the lower limit of spontaneous fall, is given a braking force F, is rapidly decelerated without receiving an impact, and is compressed again by stretching the elastic body 3 again. Power and electric winch 3
By the winding of the wire rope 5 by OA, the wire rope 5 is rapidly accelerated upward and floats, and becomes a zero gravity state. Hereinafter, the above-described parabolic motion (ballistic motion) is repeated, and a microgravity or weightless state is generated in a section L (about 1 second) from natural levitation to the rising end where the tension of the elastic body 3 is lost to near the end of the natural fall. You.

The detection of the low gravity state or the zero gravity state of the discharge vessel 13 is repeatedly detected by the detecting means 40 for detecting the tension or looseness of the wire rope 5 in synchronization with the vertical movement. In a specific embodiment of the detection means 40, as shown in FIG. 3, the wire rope 5 is bent by applying a force F in one direction to a roller 50 by a spring 51. The roller 50 is in the zero gravity position (a) by receiving the force of the spring 51 when the wire rope 5 is in the state of microgravity or zero gravity.
When the wire rope 5 is pulled by the discharge vessel 13 or the electric winch 30A, the spring 51 is extended and moves to the gravity position (b). The two positions (a) and (b) are detected as ON and OFF by the limit switch LS, and an ON signal is output at the zero-gravity position (a).

The synthesizing apparatus 100 of the present invention, such as laren,
It is configured as described above. Subsequently, as shown in FIGS. 5 to 11, the results of experiments on each item using the synthesizing apparatus 100 will be described.

According to the apparatus 100 for synthesizing fullerene or the like of the present invention, fullerene synthesis by arc discharge in helium gas is performed in zero gravity, and if heat convection does not occur, the synthesis time of carbon molecules at high temperature increases, and High efficiency synthesis of fullerene can be expected. Therefore, a vertical oscillating tower with a height of 12 m is constructed, the discharge vessel 13 of the arc discharge is vertically moved and vibrated, and the discharge current synchronous modulation method is repeatedly used in a small gravitational field, equivalently under a small gravitational field. Fullerene synthesis was performed for a long time (weightless time about 1 second, integrated weightless time 1
3 minutes). The state of discharge and convection changes in microgravity,
Higher fullerene content was synthesized.

The vertically vibrating steel tower 20 as the elevating tower having a height of 12 m (vibration cycle: about 2.3 sec, weightless time: about 1.0 s)
ec, equivalent gravityless time 6.5-13 min) is shown below. Synthesis device 100 for the above fullerenes and the like
The elevating tower in is built in the forest to prevent the effects of crosswinds. The feature of this elevating tower is that it uses a repetitive ballistic motion.
The point is that the integration can be extended as long as the vibration is repeated, and that the experiment of high-temperature gas reaction in zero gravity can be performed not only for carbon molecules.

First, a discharge vessel (vacuum chamber) 1
3 is evacuated to below 10 ^-2 Torr by a pump,
Degas. Then, helium gas 100-760
After filling with Torr, the container is closed and separated from the exhaust device. Carbon rods 21 and 23 were attached to the electrodes attached to both sides of the discharge vessel (anode diameter 5 mm).
A DC current I of -60 A is supplied from the DC power supply unit DE. The arc is started by a contact firing. The discharge vessel 13 is attached to the rubber elastic body 3, and is periodically moved with a constant amplitude in the vertical direction by forced vibration. The amplitude of the vertical vibration is about 4
mp-p, oscillation period T = 2.3 sec, weightless time is T
go = 1.0 sec. The discharge current I is modulated in a pulsed manner in synchronization with the oscillating motion.

Under the above experimental conditions, the amount of soot generation increases in proportion to the square of the discharge current. Therefore, a large amount of soot is generated at a constant phase of vertical vibration, and the control is performed to stop soot generation at another phase. It is possible. Therefore, equivalently microgravity,
Long-time synthesis is possible in each phase of static gravity and high gravity. The rise time of the pulse is 0.1 sec or less. Here, the experiment was performed with a discharge time of 15 to 30 min (equivalent microgravity time of about 6 to 13 min). This discharge time can be extended without hindrance.

The discharge vessel 13 of the arc discharge in the vibrating gravitational field was forcibly vibrated by the lifting / lowering driving means 30, and the vibration was performed under the condition that the vibration became constant amplitude. FIG. 5 is a diagram in which the output of the accelerometer attached to the discharge vessel is recorded.
Due to the vibration, the gravitational acceleration G changes from 0go (go is the gravitational acceleration on the ground) to 2go. The time required for the tension of the elastic body to be released and in the zero gravity state is about 1.0 sec.
It is. Gravity fluctuation at the time of microgravity is 0.05 go or less. It is considered that the gravity fluctuation is mainly caused by the flexural vibration of the elastic body 3 and the friction between the guide members 25 and 27.

FIG. 6 shows the result of measuring the change over time of the voltage between the electrodes when the discharge vessel is vibrated while the power supply current is kept constant. Here, discharge current I = 40 A, pressure p = 300
Torr. It can be seen that the discharge voltage V increases in the low gravity phase. From the result of FIG. 6, in the zero-gravity state, the high-temperature, high-pressure gas stays in the arc plasma region.
Usually, discharge occurs in a system with more collisions than in the case of gravity,
It is expected that the discharge voltage V is increased.

Next, the generation of soot under conditions synchronized with the small gravity phase and the generation of soot under normal gravity with the discharge vessel 13 stationary were compared. In an experiment in a vibration state, the He pressure p = 300T
orr, pulse modulation of 30-50 A discharge current (duty)
About 40%), a discharge time of 15 minutes, and an equivalent microgravity time of 6 minutes. Under stationary experimental conditions, the synthesis apparatus 100 was fixed and discharged under the same conditions for 15 minutes. In this case, the pulse period is 2 sec and the duty is 50%. FIG. 7 shows the ratio of the soot collected at the top, side, and bottom in the discharge vessel 13 with respect to the total soot mass WT after the discharge. It can be seen that, in the weightless phase, the amount of soot attached to the upper lid decreases and the accumulation at the bottom increases in the weightless phase as compared with the stationary state. That is,
It is considered that the thermal convection is considerably suppressed even in the repetition of the weightless state for about one second.

Next, fullerene synthesis under the condition of synchronizing with the microgravity phase of repeated fullerene synthesis under small gravity and synthesis under stationary normal gravity were compared and compared. In the experiment in the vibration state, the helium pressure p = 300 Torr
r, pulse modulation of discharge current 20-50 A (duty about 4
0%), discharge time 15 min, equivalent microgravity time 6 mi
n. Under stationary experimental conditions, the synthesis apparatus 100 was fixed and discharged under the same conditions for 15 minutes. In this case, the pulse modulation cycle is 2 seconds and the duty is 50%. After the discharge, the discharge vessel was sufficiently cooled, opened to the atmosphere, and the soot deposited on the top, side, and bottom of the discharge vessel 13 was collected, and the mass of each soot was recorded. A part of the soot was dissolved in hexane, sufficiently stirred, filtered, and the solution was subjected to absorption analysis. Even under the condition of microgravity, three C60 peaks were confirmed, and the result that C60 synthesis was performed in the same manner as usual was obtained. From this peak, the C60 content in soot can be calculated, and the C60 production rate can be calculated from the product of the soot generation amount and the C60 content.

FIG. 8 shows the C60 mass content in three parts in the container. In the zero-gravity state, the content in the upper lid portion is lower than that in the case of stationary, but the content in the side and bottom portions is increasing. This is considered to be an effect that the synthesized C60 isotropically diffused in a zero gravity state. A comparison of the overall production rates of C60 is shown in FIG. It can be seen that a C60 production rate of twice or more was obtained under the zero gravity condition.

Next, the synthesis amount of higher fullerenes other than C60 was examined. Soot for 3 hours by Soxhlet method,
After extracting with xylene and concentrating about 100 times, high performance liquid chromatography (developing solution: xylene, column: Nacalai 5P)
Using BB), the relative content of higher fullerenes was examined.
FIG. 10 shows the results of comparing the absorbance of each fullerene at λ = 300 nm (indicated by relative intensity to C60). It can be seen that the relative content of C76, C78, C82 and C84 increases in the case of zero gravity. Currently, we are studying the measurement of higher order fullerenes by improving the chromatographic sensitivity and resolution of finite samples. As shown in FIG. 11, these results qualitatively agree with the results measured with a laser ionization mass spectrometer (LD-TOF). In this case, the measurement of a fullerene solution obtained by extracting xylene from soot was performed.
0 shots are averaged.

The conclusions from the above experiments are as follows: 1) Using a vertical vibration type fullerene or other synthesizing apparatus 100, arc discharge is repeatedly performed in a low-gravity area to clarify the gravitational dependence of discharge characteristics and reduce thermal convection. It was confirmed that the effect appeared. 2) The fullerene synthesis experiment could be repeatedly performed in the low-gravity area, and the discharge current was synchronously modulated, and the fullerene synthesis in the small-gravity field could be equivalently continued for 13 minutes. 3) When the synthesized soot was solvent-extracted and the C60 production rate was compared, the efficiency was improved more than twice under the zero gravity condition. Further, when the relative content of higher fullerene is relatively soft, C76,
It has been found that higher-order fullerenes such as C78, C82, and C84 are efficiently synthesized in a small gravity state. This experimental result supports the hypothesis that the carbon molecules are present in the high-temperature gas for a long time in the discharge space where the convection is suppressed, and the high-temperature synthesis reaction is promoted.

As described above, the synthesizing apparatus 100 for fullerenes and the like according to the present embodiment has the following effects. First, only during the period of occurrence of the microgravity or weightlessness, the arc discharge current is synchronously modulated and allowed to flow, and arc discharge is repeated only in the microgravity state of the discharge vessel 13 in which thermal convection is suppressed, thereby generating fullerene and the like. It has the effect of performing efficiently.

Further, the discharge vessel 13 which is vibrated up and down by the elevation drive means 30 repeatedly performs parabolic motion (ballistic motion), and the zero gravity time per height becomes twice as long as a simple drop. As a result, the high-temperature carbon synthesis reaction time is prolonged, and high-order (high-molecular-weight) fullerene and metal-encapsulated fullerene are effectively synthesized.

Further, since the wire rope 5 having the elastic body 3 interposed therebetween is caused to raise and lower the vibration with respect to the discharge vessel 13 by the lifting / lowering driving means 30, the discharge vessel is accelerated smoothly and rapidly by the elastic body. The tension of the wire rope disappears in a short time, and thereafter, a slow parabolic motion (ballistic motion) of natural levitation occurs, and a long section in which the wire falls naturally can be in a state of microgravity or weightlessness. Also, the fall of the discharge vessel is smoothly reduced by the elastic body without impact, and the energy is efficiently converted due to the rising acceleration in the next cycle.

Further, the detection of the microgravity or zero-gravity state generated in the discharge vessel is indirectly detected as the repeated tension / relaxation of the wire rope, which is the cord engaged with the detecting means 40, and therefore the microgravity or the zero gravity state is detected. Gravity or weightlessness can be easily detected.

The apparatus 100 for synthesizing fullerene or the like of the present invention 100
The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and it goes without saying that the detailed configuration can be changed in design. For example, the vertical tower may be opened in the basement by changing the elevating tower, and a guide member may be vertically arranged on the vertical tube to mount the discharge vessel so as to be able to go up and down. Further, a lifting / lowering drive means for raising / lowering vibration of the discharge vessel is replaced with an electric winch or a wire rope with an elastic body, and a linear motor is arranged on a guide member. And a method of generating a zero gravity state in the discharge vessel may be adopted.

The detecting means 40 is configured to detect microgravity or weightlessness by tension / relaxation of the cord 7, but when the vertical vibration of the discharge vessel is detected by a linear motor, You may change to the detection means which detects microgravity or weightlessness directly. As a specific detection technique, it is desirable to employ a gravitational accelerometer or the like.

When using the above-described linear motor, the action and effect of generating a zero-gravity state in the discharge vessel is exerted by the free acceleration / deceleration speed of the microgravity or weightlessness of the discharge vessel by the linear motor. In addition, the synthesis device 100 for fullerenes and the like of the present invention can generate not only high-order fullerenes but also metal-containing fullerenes, metal fine particles such as platinum, dielectric fine particles such as glass, and magnetic fine particles such as iron. Has been confirmed.

[0040]

As described in detail above, claim 1 of the present invention
In this case, the discharge vessel is subjected to vertical vibration by the vertical drive means. After vertical acceleration, the discharge vessel rises in a parabolic motion (ballistic motion), reaches a peak, and continues over a section of the natural fall motion. No gravity or weightlessness,
According to the detection information of the detection means for detecting the microgravity or weightless state, the arc discharge current is synchronously modulated repeatedly in synchronization with the microgravity to weightlessness of the discharge vessel, so only during the microgravity to weightlessness generation period, The arc discharge current is synchronously modulated and caused to flow, and the arc discharge is repeated only in the microgravity state of the discharge vessel in which thermal convection is suppressed, thereby exhibiting the effect of efficiently producing fullerene and the like.

Further, the discharge vessel which is vibrated up and down by the up and down driving means repeatedly performs parabolic motion (ballistic motion), so that the zero gravity time per height is twice as long as a simple drop. As a result, the high-temperature carbon synthesis reaction time is prolonged, and high-order (high-molecular-weight) fullerene and metal-encapsulated fullerene can be effectively synthesized.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, the wire rope having the elastic body interposed therebetween is caused to raise and lower by the lifting drive means with respect to the discharge vessel. As a result, the tension of the wire rope disappears in a short time, and thereafter, a slow parabolic movement (ballistic movement) of natural levitation occurs, and there is an effect that a long section of the subsequent natural fall becomes microgravity or weightlessness. The discharge vessel is decelerated to the lower limit position by buffering the elastic body, and has an effect of being efficiently converted and used for rising energy in the next cycle.

Further, the detection of the microgravity or zero-gravity state generated in the discharge vessel is indirectly detected by the repetition of tension / relaxation of the elastic body or the wire rope, which is the string body engaged with the detecting means. There is an effect that the detection of the microgravity or the zero gravity state can be performed simply and easily.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, the discharge vessel is vibrated up and down by means of up and down driving means, and the discharge vessel is caused to repeatedly generate a microgravity or weightless state by the up / down vibration.
Since the thermal convection of the arc discharge is suppressed under the zero gravity to synthesize fullerene and the like, the carbon particles move by the thermal diffusion in the multiple collision system, and the carbon molecules accumulate in the high temperature plasma region for a long time. As a result, the high-temperature carbon synthesis reaction time is prolonged, and there is an effect that high-order (high-molecular-weight) fullerene and metal-encapsulated fullerene can be effectively synthesized.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a view showing an embodiment of the present invention, and is a schematic view of a synthesizing apparatus for fullerene and the like.

FIG. 2 is a view showing an embodiment of the present invention, and is a front view of other means for driving up and down the discharge vessel.

FIG. 3 is a view showing the embodiment of the present invention, and is an operational front view of a detecting means for detecting a microgravity state or a zero gravity state of the discharge vessel.

FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating the embodiment of the present invention, and is a characteristic diagram illustrating a relationship between parabolic motion and gravity due to vertical vibration of a discharge vessel.

FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating an embodiment of the present invention, and is a characteristic curve diagram of a temporal change of a gravitational acceleration.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an embodiment of the present invention, and is a characteristic curve diagram of a time change of a voltage between electrodes.

FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating an example of the present invention, and is a comparison diagram of soot adhesion mass generated by weightlessness and static gravity.

FIG. 8 is a view showing an example of the present invention, and is a comparison diagram of C60 mass content synthesized by weightlessness and static gravity.

FIG. 9 is a diagram showing an example of the present invention, and is a comparison diagram of the total C60 production rate synthesized by weightlessness and static gravity.

FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example of the present invention, and is a comparison diagram of the relative intensity of higher-order fullerenes by chromatography.

FIG. 11 is a diagram showing an example of the present invention, and is a comparative diagram of laser ionization mass spectrometry.

FIG. 12 is a view showing an example of the present invention, and is a cross-sectional view of an arc flame by a synthesizing apparatus such as fullerene.

FIG. 13 is a sectional view showing a conventional fullerene automatic synthesizer.

FIG. 14 is a sectional view showing an arc flame of a conventional fullerene automatic synthesis apparatus.

[Explanation of symbols]

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Above ground 3 Elastic body 5 Wire rope 7 String 13 Discharge vessel 20 Elevating tower 21, 23 Carbon electrode rod 25, 27 Guide member 30 Elevating drive means 30A Electric winch 30B Hoisting drum 31, 33 Pulley 40 Detecting means LS Limit switch 50 Roller 51 Spring L Zero gravity section DE DC power supply section IC current control section I DC current (a) Zero gravity position (b) Gravity position 100 Synthesizing device such as fullerene

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A synthesizing apparatus for filling a evacuated discharge vessel with helium gas and performing arc discharge on a pair of opposedly disposed carbon electrode rods to produce fullerene or the like, wherein the discharge vessel is perpendicular to an elevating tower or the like. The discharge vessel is attached to an arranged guide member so as to be able to ascend and descend, and the discharge vessel is connected to elevating drive means to which elevating vibration is given, and has a detecting means for detecting microgravity or weightlessness due to the ascending and descending vibration of the discharge vessel Further, a current control unit for inputting detection information of microgravity or weightlessness of the detection means, the current control unit is tuned to microgravity or weightlessness of the discharge vessel,
A synthesizing device for fullerenes or the like, which synchronously modulates an arc discharge current. 2. The apparatus for synthesizing fullerenes and the like according to claim 1, wherein the discharge vessel is connected to a lifting / lowering driving means by a cord such as a wire rope with an elastic body interposed therebetween, and furthermore, the detecting means is a tension of the cord. A synthesizing device for fullerenes or the like, characterized in that minute or no tension is detected by relaxation. 3. A synthesis method for filling a evacuated discharge vessel with helium gas and performing arc discharge on a pair of opposedly disposed carbon electrode rods to produce fullerene or the like. A method for synthesizing a fullerene or the like, characterized in that an up-and-down drive means causes up-and-down vibration and an arc discharge current is synchronously modulated in a pulsed manner in synchronism with microgravity or weightlessness repeatedly generated by the up-down vibration of the discharge vessel.