Arc Current Control for a Carbon Nanoparticle Synthesis Station

Abstract

A microcontroller based system has been developed to control the arc current in a carbon nanoparticle synthesis station. The station works under the principle of in-water arc discharge between two graphite electrodes. The system measures the current on the electrodes and, by means of a micropositioning mechanism, uses its value to control the gap between them. Several control algorithms were tested in order to maintain an optimal synthesis constant current.