Synthesis of amorphous carbon particles by an electric arc in the ultrasonic cavitation field of liquid benzene

The synthesis of amorphous carbon particles by an electric arc in the ultrasonic cavitation field of liquid benzene was discussed. An ultrasonic homogenizer with a titanium horn 18 mm in diameter was used to irradiate 100 ml of liquid benzene at 600 W and 20 kHz. A glass vessel in ice water was sealed using a Teflon lid and an Ar gas flow was directed into it to maintain an inert atmosphere. The structure of the carbon particle was observed using a 300 kV transmission electron microscope. The ultrasonic cavitation field consist of thousands of tiny bubbles functions as an electric arc field and permits the arc discharge to occur with relatively low electric power and in an insulating solution such as liquid benzene.