Spectroscopic studies of particulate formation in fuel blends

POSTER

Abstract

The Raman and infrared absorption spectroscopy were used to investigate the properties of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) flame-synthesized using CH$_{4}$-H$_{2}$ low calorific value gases. The development of large amounts of CNTs benefits from flame synthesis processes, where the fuel serves as both the heating and the reactant source. As a result of flame condition studies it was determined that the CNT growth region is at 20-30{\%} of the visible flame height and at a flow rate between 7.18E-07 m$^{3}$/s and 9.57E-07 m$^{3}$/s. Preliminary characterizations of the samples by Scanning Electron Microscopy demonstrate that the formation of nanostructure occurs only for $<$10{\%} H$_{2}$ concentration. The Raman analysis of the pristine samples shows the existence of distinctive multi-walled carbon nanotube (MWNT) D and G bands at 1321 cm$^{-1}$ and 1595 cm$^{-1}$, respectively. Besides the vibrational lines characteristic to MWNTs, infrared absorption measurements also reveal the presence of C-H bonds.

Authors

  • Felicia Manciu

    Physics Department, University of Texas at El Paso, El Paso TX 79968, Physics Department, Physics Department, University of Texas at El Paso, El Paso, TX 79912, USA

  • Mahesh Subramanya

    Combustion, Propulsion and Reaction Engineering Laboratory, Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering

  • Jayesh Govani

    Physics Department, Physics Department, University of Texas at El Paso, El Paso, TX 79912, USA

  • Ahsan Choudhuri

    Combustion, Propulsion and Reaction Engineering Laboratory, Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering, University of Texas at El Paso