摘要:
The present invention is generally directed to methods of functionalizing carbon nanotubes (CNTs) in acidic media. By first dispersing CNTs in an acidic medium, bundled CNTs can be separated as individual CNTs, affording exposure of the CNT sidewalls, and thereby facilitating the functionalization of such CNTs, wherein functional groups are attached to the subsequently exposed sidewalls of these individualized CNTs. Once dispersed in this substantially unbundled state, the CNTs are functionalized according to one or more of a variety of functionalization processes. Typically, ultrasonication or non-covalent wrapping is not needed to afford such dispersion and subsequent functionalization. Additionally, such methods are easily scalable and can provide for sidewall-functionalized CNTs in large, industrial-scale quantities.
摘要:
The present invention is directed towards methods of thermally defunctionalizing functionalized (derivatized) carbon nanotubes (CNTs) in solution or suspended in a liquid medium. Such defunctionalization largely comprises the removal of sidewall functionality from the CNTs, but can also serve to remove functionality from the CNT ends. Such methods facilitate the resuspension of such defunctionalized CNTs in various solvents and permit the defunctionalization of functionalized CNTs that would normally decompose (or partially decompose) upon thermal treatment. Such methods of defunctionalization can typically lead to defunctionalized CNTs that are essentially pristine (or nearly pristine), and which, in contrast to prior art methods of thermal defunctionalization, can be easily resuspended in a variety of solvents.
摘要:
The present invention is directed to aryl halide (such as aryl bromide) functionalized carbon nanotubes can be utilized in anionic polymerization processes to form polymer-carbon nanotube materials with improved dispersion ability in polymer matrices. In this process the aryl halide is reacted with an alkyllithium species or is reacted with a metal to replace the aryl-bromine bond with an aryl-lithium or aryl-metal bond, respectively. It has further been discovered that other functionalized carbon nanotubes, after deprotonation with a deprotonation agent, can similarly be utilized in anionic polymerization processes to form polymer-carbon nanotube materials. Additionally or alternatively, a ring opening polymerization process can be performed. The resultant materials can be used by themselves due to their enhanced strength and reinforcement ability when compared to their unbound polymer analogs. Additionally, these materials can also be blended with pre-formed polymers to establish compatibility and enhanced dispersion of nanotubes in otherwise hard to disperse matrices resulting in significantly improved material properties. The resultant polymer-carbon nanotube materials can also be used in drug delivery processes due to their improved dispersion ability and biodegradability, and can also be used for scaffolding to promote cellular growth of tissue.
摘要:
The present invention is directed to carbon nanotube-elastomer composites, methods for making such carbon nanotube-elastomer composites, and articles of manufacture made with such carbon nanotube-elastomer composites. In general, such carbon nanotube-elastomer (CNT-elastomer) composites display an enhancement in their tensile modulus (over the native elastomer), but without a large concomitant reduction in their strain-at-break.
摘要:
An assembly of a NanoCell comprising a disordered array of metallic islands interlinked with molecules between metallic input/output leads and with disordered arrays of molecules and Au islands is disclosed. The NanoCell may function both as a memory device that is programmable post-fabrication. The assembled NanoCells exhibit reproducible switching behavior and at least two types of memory effects at room temperature. The switch-type memory is characteristic of a destructive read while the conductivity-type memory features a nondestructive read. Both types of s memory effects are stable for more than a week at room temperature and bit level ratios (0:1) of the conductivity-type memory have been observed to be as high as 10 4 :1 and reaching 10 6 :1 upon ozone treatment which likely destroys extraneous leakage pathways. The invention demonstrates the efficacy of a disordered nano-scale array for high-yielding switching and memory while mitigating the arduous task of nano-scale patterning.