Role of silicon carbide in arc discharge synthesis of higher fullerenes

The effects that the presence of silicon atoms in the zone of electric arc used for evaporation of graphite electrodes has on the efficiency of formation of higher fullerenes C$_{76}$, C$_{78}$, С$_{80}$, С$_{82}$, C$_{84}$, С$_{86}$, etc., are studied. Optimization of the evaporation conditions and the use of composite graphite electrodes containing silicon carbide, the additive, in the range of 0 to 6.3 wt% enables us to produce soot with the fullerene content at up to 15.5 wt% in a soot extract and, at the time, achieve a high net fullerene yield of 10.5% of the soot weight.