Spectroscopic study of carbonaceous dust particles grown in benzene plasma

The formation mechanism and spectroscopic characterization of carbonaceous dust particles obtained by using benzene as the starting material in an rf discharge is discussed. The large particles are formed in benzene plasma by the inclusion of hydrogenated amorphous carbon (HAC) or microcrystalline graphite particles in the particle core while small particles are formed by direct aggregation and condensation of gas-phase polyphenyl molecules.