Abstract Submitted to the    NANOTUBE'04 Conference:

All developed carbon nanotubes can be roughly divided in two groups by production methods, CVD and carbon arc discharge. CVD nanotubes are proposed as likely meeting the price of $80/kg that is the "green" light for nanotubes' commercialization. However, CVD nanotubes have lower quality than arc-produced. Conventional Gas-phase Carbon Arcs (GCA) methods are not capable to meet the required price. Self-regulated Liquid-phase Arc discharge (SLA) being provided in proper hydrocarbon liquids produce raw deposits of naturally short Multi Wall Nanotubes (with 50-70% of the sh-MWNTs) in bulk (so far, up to 150g/h per anode), enabling their commercialization in 1-2 years. variation of the SLA regimes allows controlling sh-MWNTs' structure, median lengths (within the range of 150-350nm), outer (7-10nm) and inner (1.5-3.5nm) diameters, facilitating their further applications as superior field electron emitters, enhancing additives to composites (polymer, metal, ceramic, glass), ideal s upports for catalysts, true catalysts, etc.