SWNTs synthesized in external magnetic field

This paper describes the results of the synthesis of SWNTs in weak and strong DC magnetic fields. In weak magnetic fields with the maximum intensity of 0.5 T, SWNTs were synthesized only when the applied field was parallel to the current direction. These samples consisted of tubes with a diameter as small as about 0.9 nm. Furthermore, the metal particles were smaller compared to zero field case. On the other hand, at strong magnetic fields with the maximum intensity of 2 T, the yield decreased with increasing magnetic field strengths for the arc discharge current of 70 A. This was believed due to forced convection caused by the temperature rise in the anode resulting from higher current densities due to Lorentz force acting on charged particles non-parallel to the magnetic field direction.