摘要:
The present invention relates to processes for the purification of single-wall carbon nanotubes (SWNTs). Known methods of single-wall carbon nanotube production result in a single-wall carbon nanotube product that contains single-wall carbon nanotubes in addition to impurities including residual metal catalyst particles and amounts of small amorphous carbon sheets that surround the catalyst particles and appear on the side of the single-wall carbon nanotubes. The present purification processes remove the extraneous carbon as well as metal-containing residual catalyst particles.
摘要:
The present invention is directed toward methods of selectively functionalizing carbon nanotubes of a specific type or range of types, based on their electronic properties, using diazonium chemistry. The present invention is also directed toward methods of separating carbon nanotubes into populations of specific types or range(s) of types via selective functionalization and electrophoresis, and also to the novel compositions generated by such separations.
摘要:
A method for cutting single-wall carbon nanotubes involves partially fluorinating single-wall carbon nanotubes and pyrolyzing the partially fluorinated nanotubes in an inert atmosphere or vacuum up to about 1000° C. The nanotubes are optionally purified before cutting. The partial fluorination involves fluorinating the nanotubes to a carbon-fluorine stoichiometry of CFx, where x is up to about 0.3. The invention also relates to the derivatization of fluorinated and cut single-wall carbon nanotubes. The single-wall carbon nanotubes can be cut to any length depending on the fluorination and pyrolysis conditions. Short nanotubes are useful in various applications, such as field emitters for flat panel displays and as “seeds” for further nanotube growth.
摘要:
A gas-phase method for producing high yields of single-wall carbon nanotubes with high purity and homogeneity is disclosed. The method involves using preformed metal catalyst clusters to initiate and grow single-wall carbon nanotubes. In one embodiment, multi-metallic catalyst precursors are used to facilitate the metal catalyst cluster formation. The catalyst clusters are grown to the desired size before mixing with a carbon-containing feedstock at a temperature and pressure sufficient to initiate and form single-wall carbon nanotubes. The method also involves using small fullerenes and preformed sections of single-wall carbon nanotubes, either derivatized or underivatized, as seed molecules for expediting the growth and increasing the yield of single-wall carbon nanotubes. The multi-metallic catalyst precursors and the seed molecules may be introduced into the reactor by means of a supercritical fluid. In addition the seed molecules may be introduced into the reactor via an aerosol or smoke.
摘要:
The present invention relates to a process for the purification of single-wall carbon nanotubes and the purified single-wall carbon nanotube material. Known methods of single-wall carbon nanotube production result in a single-wall carbon nanotube product that contains single-wall carbon nanotubes in addition to impurities including residual metal catalyst particles and amounts of small amorphous carbon sheets that surround the catalyst particles and appear on the sides of the single-wall carbon nanotubes and “ropes” of single-wall carbon nanotubes. The purification process removes the extraneous carbon as well as metal-containing residual catalyst particles. The process employs steps including a gas-phase oxidation of the amorphous carbon and subsequent liquid-phase reaction of a halogen-containing acid with the metal-containing species. Optionally, the single-wall carbon nanotube material may be annealed dry or in the presence of moisture. The present invention provides a scalable means for producing high-purity single-wall carbon nanotube material.
摘要:
The present invention is directed towards methods (processes) of providing large quantities of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) of defined diameter and chirality (i.e., precise populations). In such processes, CNT seeds of a pre-selected diameter and chirality are grown to many (e.g., hundreds) times their original length. This is optionally followed by cycling some of the newly grown material back as seed material for regrowth. Thus, the present invention provides for the large-scale production of precise populations of CNTs, the precise composition of such populations capable of being optimized for a particular application (e.g., hydrogen storage). The present invention is also directed to complexes of CNTs and transition metal catalyst precurors, such complexes typically being formed en route to forming CNT seeds.
摘要:
The present invention is directed toward methods of selectively functionalizing carbon nanotubes of a specific type or range of types, based on their electronic properties, using diazonium chemistry. The present invention is also directed toward methods of separating carbon nanotubes into populations of specific types or range(s) of types via selective functionalization and electrophoresis, and also to the novel compositions generated by such separations.
摘要:
The present invention is generally directed to the block copolymerization of rigid rod polymers with carbon nanotubes (CNTs), the CNTs generally being shortened, to form nanotube block copolymers. The present invention is also directed to fibers and other shaped articles made from the nanotube block copolymers of the present invention.
摘要:
A continuous gas-phase method for producing single-wall carbon nanotubes at high catalyst productivity and high yield is disclosed. The method involves the use of a novel in-situ formed catalyst to initiate and grow single-wall carbon nanotubes using a carbon-containing feedstock in a high temperature and pressure process. The catalyst comprises in-situ-generated transition metal particles in contact with in-situ-generated refractory particles. The population of nucleating sites for single-wall carbon nanotubes is enhanced due to the ease of formation of a population of refractory particles. These, in turn, improve the nucleation and stability of the transition metal particles that grow on them. The larger number of transition metal particles translate into a larger number of sites for single-wall carbon nanotube production. The higher catalyst yields provide a means for obtaining higher purity single-wall carbon nanotubes.
摘要:
The present invention relates to an all gas-phase process for the purification of single-wall carbon nanotubes and the purified single-wall carbon nanotube material. Known methods of single-wall carbon nanotube production result in a single-wall carbon nanotube product that contains single-wall carbon nanotubes in addition to impurities including residual metal catalyst particles and amounts of small amorphous carbon sheets that surround the catalyst particles and appear on the sides of the single-wall carbon nanotubes and “ropes” of single-wall carbon nanotubes. The purification process removes the extraneous carbon as well as metal-containing residual catalyst particles. The process comprises oxidation of the single-wall carbon nanotube material, reduction and reaction of a halogen-containing gas with the metal-containing species. The oxidation step may be done dry or in the presence of water vapor. The present invention provides a scalable means for producing high-purity single-wall carbon nanotube material.