Abstract:
Provided is a method of producing isolated graphene sheets directly from a carbon/graphite precursor. The method comprises: (a) providing a mass of halogenated aromatic molecules selected from halogenated petroleum heavy oil or pitch, coal tar pitch, polynuclear hydrocarbon, or a combination thereof; (b) heat treating this mass at a first temperature of 25 to 300° C. in the presence of a catalyst and optionally at a second temperature of 300-3,200° C. to form graphene domains dispersed in a disordered matrix of carbon or hydrocarbon molecules, and (c) separating and isolating the planes of hexagonal carbon atoms or fused aromatic rings to recover graphene sheets from the disordered matrix.
Abstract:
The separation of single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWNTs), by electronic type using centrifugation of compositions of SWNTs and surface active block copolymers in density gradient media.
Abstract:
In one aspect, methods of making semiconducting single-walled carbon nanotubes are described herein. In some implementations, a method of making semiconducting single-walled carbon nanotubes comprises providing a plurality of semiconducting nanotube seeds including (n,m) nanotube seeds and non-(n,m) nanotube seeds. The method further comprises illuminating the plurality of nanotube seeds with a first laser beam having a first wavelength and a second laser beam having a second wavelength, the second wavelength differing from the first wavelength. The first wavelength corresponds to an absorption maximum for a (n,m) carbon nanotube and the second wavelength corresponds to a photoluminescence emission frequency for the (n,m) carbon nanotube.
Abstract:
In one aspect, methods of making semiconducting single-walled carbon nanotubes are described herein. In some implementations, a method of making semiconducting single-walled carbon nanotubes comprises providing a plurality of semiconducting nanotube seeds including (n,m) nanotube seeds and non-(n,m) nanotube seeds. The method further comprises illuminating the plurality of nanotube seeds with a first laser beam having a first wavelength and a second laser beam having a second wavelength, the second wavelength differing from the first wavelength. The first wavelength corresponds to an absorption maximum for a (n,m) carbon nanotube and the second wavelength corresponds to a photoluminescence emission frequency for the (n,m) carbon nanotube.
Abstract:
Disclosed are methods for decapping single wall carbon nanotubes and purifying the decapped single wall carbon nanotubes. The disclosed methods include the steps of oxidizing the single wall carbon nanotubes to remove the terminal end cap and subsequently acid washing the single wall carbon nanotubes to remove the catalyst particles. The resulting carbon nanotubes have improved BET surface area and pore volume.
Abstract:
An apparatus according to the present invention comprises a chamber into which carbon nanotubes dispersed in a non-polar solvent may be received. The nanotubes are impelled along the chamber by the application of an external electrical field and will pass through a charging element that imposes an electrical charge on the nanotubes, and a template (180), such that the nanotubes are deposited on a substrate located next to the template. The substrate may be moved relative to the template such that the nanotubes are deposited on the substrate in a predetermined selective manner.
Abstract:
The invention provides for a method of preparing a covalently functionalised carbon nanomaterial, comprising the steps of (i) treating a carbon material with a reducing agent comprising an alkali metal M in the presence of a solvent S to form a reduced-carbon material solution; and (ii) treating the resulting reduced-carbon material solution with a functionalising reagent to form a covalently functionalised carbon nanomaterial, wherein (a) the concentration of alkali metal [M] in step (i) is between 0.003 mol/L and 0.05 mol/L, and (b) the ratio of carbon material to alkali metal (C/M) in solution in step (i) is at least 2:1. A method of preparing a covalently functionalised carbon nanomaterial using N,N-dimethylacetamide as a solvent is also provided.
Abstract:
A method and system are disclosed for separating single-walled carbon nanotubes from double and multi-walled carbon nanotubes by using the difference in the buoyant density of Single-Walled versus Multi-Walled carbon nanotubes. In one embodiment, the method comprises providing a vessel with first and second solutions. The first solution comprises a quantity of carbon nanotubes, including single-walled carbon nanotubes and double and multi-walled carbon nanotubes. The single walled nanotubes have a first density, the double and multi-walled nanotubes having a second density. The second solution in the vessel has a third density between said first and second densities. The vessel is centrifuged to faun first and second layers in the vessel, with the second solution between said first and second layers. The single-walled carbon nanotubes are predominantly in the first layer, and the second and multi-walled carbon nanotubes are predominantly in the second layer.
Abstract:
A process of sorting metallic single wall carbon nanotubes (SWNTs) from semiconducting types by disposing the SWNTs in a dilute fluid, exposing the SWNTs to a dipole-inducing magnetic field which induces magnetic dipoles in the SWNTs so that a strength of a dipole depends on a conductivity of the SWNT containing the dipole, orienting the metallic SWNTs, and exposing the SWNTs to a magnetic field with a spatial gradient so that the oriented metallic SWNTs drift in the magnetic field gradient and thereby becomes spatially separated from the semiconducting SWNTs. An apparatus for the process of sorting SWNTs is disclosed.
Abstract:
The present teachings provide, in part, methods of separating two-dimensional nanomaterials by atomic layer thickness. In certain embodiments, the present teachings provide methods of generating graphene nanomaterials having a controlled number of atomic layer(s).