Mechanism of laser initiated carbon nanotube ignition

This work investigated carbon nanotube reactions when subjected to a laser irradiation. It was found that the laser produced a fast explosion‐like result. The addition of ferrocene to the carbon nanotube powder was found to increase the decomposition temperature and reaction of photo‐initiated nanotubes. Incomplete combustion was found as a result of particle scattering and limited thermal transfer in loose samples however in confined samples a burning front can develop resulting in more complete combustion