PHYSICO-CHEMICAL BASES OF ELECTROLYTIC SYNTHESIS OF CARBON NANOMATERIALS FROM MOLTEN SALTS. Part 1

An analysis of the decomposition potentials of lithium, sodium, potassium, calcium, barium, and magnesium carbonates with different versions of cathode products (elemental carbon, carbon monoxide, metal and carbide) in the range of 300-1900 K showed that for K2CO3 deposition of alkali metal on the cathode is most energetically profitable process at all temperatures. For Na2CO3 it is possible to obtain carbon at T < 1000 K. With temperature increase, the predominant process is the reduction of alkali metal. For Li2CO3, CaCO3, BaCO3, MgCO3 at T < 950 °C carbon deposition will be more advantageous, at higher temperatures reduction up to CO will be more advantageous. The decomposition of CO2 flows at more positive potentials compared with carbonate systems. However, low activity of CO2 in carbonate-containing melts will prevent the significant contribution of this reaction to the electrode process. Thermodynamic calculations of the dependence of the carbon deposition potentials from carbonate anion on the acidity of the melt (concentration of oxide ions) show the possibility of displacing this potential up to 0.8 V by changing the acid-base properties of the melt. On the basis of the analysis of binary phase diagrams, Me–C and MeC–C, criteria for selecting the cathode material for generation of the tubular structure of graphite are established. The diagrams should contain: (1) – solid solutions of C–Me at a temperature of 700–900 °C and sufficient solubility of carbon (up to ~ 1 at.%) in the metal should be observed; (2) – after saturation of the solid solution with carbon, the precipitation (precipitation) of graphite from the metal should occur without the formation of intermediate carbide phases; (3) – in the case of the formation of carbides, the diffusion of carbon in the solid solution С–Ме and in the carbide phase MeС should flow with high speed and quickly reach the concentration of carbon saturation for graphite deposition.

Nanostructured Diamond-Like Carbon Films Grown by Off-Axis Pulsed Laser Deposition

Nanostructured diamond-like carbon (DLC) films instead of the ultrasmooth film were obtained by pulsed laser ablation of pyrolytic graphite. Deposition was performed at room temperature in vacuum with substrates placed at off-axis position. The configuration utilized high density plasma plume arriving at low effective angle for the formation of nanostructured DLC. Nanostructures with maximum size of 50 nm were deposited as compared to the ultrasmooth DLC films obtained in a conventional deposition. The Raman spectra of the films confirmed that the films were diamond-like/amorphous in nature. Although grown at an angle, ion energy of >35 eV was obtained at the off-axis position. This was proposed to be responsible for subplantation growth of sp3hybridized carbon. The condensation of energetic clusters and oblique angle deposition correspondingly gave rise to the formation of nanostructured DLC in this study.

Suspected Endothelial Pencil Graphite Deposition

A 14-year-old male patient had an ocular trauma with a pencil. Biomicroscopic examination revealed a broken part of pencil into the cornea. Foreign body removal and corneal wound closure were performed in the same day. After corneal repair, there was a grade 4+ anterior chamber reaction just like in preoperative examination. Dilated examination showed a very small piece broken tip of pencil on the upper nasal quadrant of the lens. A small and linear deposition was also seen on endothelial surface. Endothelial deposition and foreign body disappeared with intensive topical steroid treatment.