Carbon　nanoparticles　(CNPs)　with　a　controlled　structure　were　synthesized　through　an　attractive　method　based　on　the　decomposition　of　methane　in　arc　plasma　processing.　The　effects　of　argon　and　methane　flow　rate,　electrode　material,　and　input　electronic　current　on　the　morphology　and　CNPs＇　size　were　studied.　The　size　and　morphology　of　CNPs　were　characterized　using　scanning　electron　microscopy　and　transmission　electron　microscopy.　Surface　area　and　microstructure　were　characterized　through　BET　surface　area　analysis,　X-ray　diffraction　and　Raman　spectroscopy.　The　results　showed　that　the　BET　surface　area　and　resistivity　of　the　CNPs　were　decreased　with　increasing　input　electronic　current.　(C)　2014　Elsevier　B.V.　All　rights　reserved.