  We report the synthesis efficiency of few-layer graphene (FLG) in an external
magnetic field modulated DC carbon arc in different non-reactive buffer gases.
The effects of buffer gases on the anode erosion rate and the cathode deposit
(CD) formation rate have been investigated during the synthesis of FLG. The
constituents of the as-synthesized CDs were investigated using transmission
electron microscopy, selected area electron diffraction, Raman spectroscopy and
X-ray diffraction analysis. A plausible growth mechanism of such FLG is
predicted. The results indicate that, under a parametrically optimized
condition, an electric-arc of this kind can efficiently generate FLG with
rotational stacking faults at a production-rate of few g/min. A guideline for
controlling the number of layers of such FLG has also been suggested.
