Abstract: A mixture and method of using such mixture is provided for purifying carbon nanotubes. A substituted imidazolium cation is utilized to suspend carbon nanotubes in a nonpolar liquid. A polar solvent immiscible with the nonpolar liquid is mixed in to remove soot from the suspension, allowing recovery of the nanotubes. The relative gentleness of the separation provides nanotubes that are undamaged and unoxidized. The components of the mixture are economically advantageous for this use and the method is simple compared to other nanotube purification methods.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
August 7, 2006
Date of Patent:
August 24, 2010
Assignee:
The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
Abstract: Carbon nanotube apparatus, and methods of carbon nanotube modification, include carbon nanotubes having locally modified properties with the positioning of the modifications being controlled. More specifically, the positioning of nanotubes on a substrate with a deposited substance, and partially vaporizing part of the deposited substance etches the nanotubes. The modifications of the carbon nanotubes determine the electrical properties of the apparatus and applications such as a transistor or Shockley diode. Other applications of the above mentioned apparatus include a nanolaboratory that assists in study of merged quantum states between nanosystems and a macroscopic host system.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
July 31, 2007
Date of Patent:
October 6, 2009
Assignee:
The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
Inventors:
Francisco Santiago, Victor H. Gehman, Jr., Karen J. Long, Kevin A. Boulais