Abstract: Improved fuel compositions containing carbon nanotubes in from 0.01% to 30.0% by weight of fuel have improved burn rate and other valuable properties. Improved lubricant compositions containing carbon nanotubes in from 0.01 to 20.0% by weight of lubricant have improved viscosity and other valuable properties.

Abstract: A process for producing hollow, single-walled carbon nanotubes by catalytic decomposition of one or more gaseous carbon compounds by first forming a gas phase mixture carbon feed stock gas comprising one or more gaseous carbon compounds, each having one to six carbon atoms and only H, O, N, S or Cl as hetero atoms, optionally admixed with hydrogen, and a gas phase metal containing compound which is unstable under reaction conditions for said decomposition, and which forms a metal containing catalyst which acts as a decomposition catalyst under reaction conditions; and then conducting said decomposition reaction under decomposition reaction conditions, thereby producing said nanotubes.

Abstract: An electrically conductive composite comprising a polyvinylidene fluoride polymer or copolymer and carbon nanotubes is provided. Preferably, carbon nanotubes may be present in the range of about 0.5-20% by weight of the composite.

Abstract: Compositions including carbide-containing nanorods and/or oxycarbide-containing nanorods and/or carbon nanotubes bearing carbides and oxycarbides and methods of making the same are provided. Rigid porous structures including oxycarbide-containing nanorods and/or carbide containing nanorods and/or carbon nanotubes bearing carbides and oxycarbides and methods of making the same are also provided. The compositions and rigid porous structures of the invention can be used either as catalyst and/or catalyst supports in fluid phase catalytic chemical reactions. Processes for making supported catalyst for selected fluid phase catalytic reactions are also provided.

Abstract: Graphitic nanotubes, which includes tubular fullerenes (commonly called “buckytubes”) and fibrils, which are functionalized by chemical substitution or by adsorption of functional moieties. More specifically the invention relates to graphitic nanotubes which are uniformly or non-uniformly substituted with chemical moieties or upon which certain cyclic compounds are adsorbed and to complex structures comprised of such functionalized nanotubes linked to one another. The invention also relates to methods for introducing functional groups onto the surface of such nanotubes. The invention further relates to uses for functionalized nanotubes.

Abstract: An electrically conductive composite comprising a polyvinylidene fluoride polymer or copolymer and carbon nanotubes is provided. Preferably, carbon nanotubes may be present in the range of about 0.5-20% by weight of the composite. The composites are prepared by dissolving the polymer in a first solvent to form a polymer solution and then adding the carbon nanotubes into the solution. The solution is mixed using an energy source such as a sonicator or a Waring blender. A precipitating component is added to precipitate out a composite comprising the polymer and the nanotubes. The composite is isolated by filtering the solution and drying the composite.

Abstract: An improved catalyst for producing carbon fibrils is made by incorporating an effective yield-enhancing amount of a carboxylate into a fibril-forming catalyst. Alternatively, such a catalyst is made by coprecipitating a compound of a metal having fibril-forming catalytic properties and an aluminum and/or magnesium compound, optionally in the presence of carbon particles or carbon fibril aggregates. The catalyst may also be made by incorporating a compound of a fibril-forming metal onto magnesia particles in carbon particles or carbon fibril aggregates. The catalysts, methods of using them to form carbon fibrils and those carbon fibrils are also disclosed.

Abstract: An improved catalyst for producing carbon fibrils is made by incorporating an effective yield-enhancing amount of a carboxylate into a fibril-forming catalyst. Alternatively, such a catalyst is made by coprecipitating a compound of a metal having fibril-forming catalytic properties and an aluminum and/or magnesium compound, optionally in the presence of carbon particles or carbon fibril aggregates. The catalyst may also be made by incorporating a compound of a fibril-forming metal onto magnesia particles in carbon particles or carbon fibril aggregates. The catalysts, methods of using them to form carbon fibrils and those carbon fibrils are also disclosed.

Abstract: A graphite fibril material comprised primarily of an aggregate of an average particle diameter of 0.1 to 100 &mgr;m in which-fibrils are intertwined, the fibrils being graphite fibrils of a fiber diameter of 0.0035 to 0.075 &mgr;m and spacing of the carbon hexagonal net plane as determined by the X-ray diffraction method of 3.36 to 3.53 angstroms.

Abstract: An electrically conductive composite comprising a polyvinylidene fluoride polymer or copolymer and carbon nanotubes is provided. Preferably, carbon nanotubes may be present in the range of about 0.5-20% by weight of the composite. The composites are prepared by mixing or dispersing carbon nanotubes in polymer emulsion using an energy source such as a Waring blender. The liquid in the mixture is then evaporated to obtain the composite comprising the polymer and the nanotubes.

Abstract: A method for the manufacture of a catalyst for the production of carbon fibrils comprising contacting a fibril-forming catalyst or precursors of a fibril-forming catalyst with an effective amount of a surfactant and/or polyol. A catalyst for the production of carbon fibrils formed by contacting a fibril-forming catalyst or precursors of a fibril-forming catalyst with an effective amount of a surfactant and/or polyol. Improved carbon fibrils or carbon fibril aggregates free of a continuous carbon thermal overcoat, with graphitic layers substantially parallel to the fibril axis, having a substantially constant diameter from about 1.0 to about 100 nanometers, and possessing enhanced dispersion into other materials and enhanced electrical conductivity in those materials.

Abstract: A catalyst for the production of carbon fibrils and a method for the manufacture of such a catalyst comprising contacting a fibril-forming catalyst or precursors of a fibril-forming catalyst with an effective amount of a surfactant and/or polyol. The improved carbon fibrils or carbon fibril aggregates produced using the catalyst are free of a continuous carbon thermal overcoat, with graphitic layers substantially parallel to the fibril axis, and have a substantially constant diameter from about 1.0 to 100 nanometers. The improved carbon fibrils possess enhanced dispersion in composite materials and provide enhanced electrical conductivity in those materials.

Abstract: Graphitic nanofibers, which include tubular fullerenes (commonly called “buckytubes”), nanotubes and fibrils, which are functionalized by chemical substitution, are used as electrodes in electrochemical capacitors. The graphitic nanofiber based electrode increases the performance of the electrochemical capacitors.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a field emission device comprising an anode and a cathode, wherein said cathode includes carbon nanotubes nanotubes which have been subjected to energy, plasma, chemical, or mechanical treatment. The present invention also relates to a field emission cathode comprising carbon nanotubes which have been subject to such treatment. A method for treating the carbon nanotubes and for creating a field emission cathode is also disclosed. A field emission display device containing carbon nanotube which have been subject to such treatment is further disclosed.

Abstract: This invention relates to rigid porous carbon structures and to methods of making same. The rigid porous structures have a high surface area which are substantially free of micropores. Methods for improving the rigidity of the carbon structures include causing the nanofibers to form bonds or become glued with other nanofibers at the fiber intersections. The bonding can be induced by chemical modification of the surface of the nanofibers to promote bonding, by adding “gluing” agents and/or by pyrolyzing the nanofibers to cause fusion or bonding at the interconnect points.

Abstract: A polymer composite composed of a polymerized mixture of functionalized carbon nanotubes and monomer which chemically reacts with the functionalized nanotubes. The carbon nanotubes are functionalized by reacting with oxidizing or other chemical media through chemical reactions or physical adsorption. The reacted surface carbons of the nanotubes are further functionalized with chemical moieties that react with the surface carbons and selected monomers. The functionalized nanotubes are first dispersed in an appropriate medium such as water, alcohol or a liquefied monomer and then the mixture is polymerized. The polymerization results in polymer chains of increasing weight bound to the surface carbons of the nanotubes. The composite may consists of some polymer chains imbedded in the composite without attachment to the nanotubes.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a field emission device comprising an anode and a cathode, wherein said cathode includes carbon nanotubes which have been treated with an ion beam. The ion beam may be any ions, including gallium, hydrogen, helium, argon, carbon, oxygen, and xenon ions. The present invention also relates to a field emission cathode comprising carbon nanotubes, wherein the nanotubes have been treated with an ion beam. A method for treating the carbon nanotubes and for creating a field emission cathode is also disclosed. A field emission display device containing carbon nanotube which have been treated with an ion beam is further disclosed.

Abstract: Compositions including oxycarbide-based nanorods and/or carbide-based nanorods and/or carbon nanotubes bearing carbides and oxycarbides and methods of making the same are provided.

Abstract: The present invention relates to compositions and rigid porous structures that contain nanorods having carbides and/or oxycarbides and methods of making and using such compositions and such rigid porous structures. The compositions and rigid porous structures can be used either as catalysts and/or catalyst supports in fluid phase catalytic chemical reactions. Processes for making supported catalyst for selected fluid phase catalytic reactions are also provided. The fluid phase catalytic reactions catalyzed include hydrogenation hydrodesulfuriaation, hydrodenitrogenation, hydrodemetallization, hydrodeoxygenation, hydrodearomatization, dehydrogenation, hydrogenolyis, isomerization, alkylation, dealkylation, oxidation and transalkylation.

Abstract: Composite electrodes including carbon nanofibers (fibrils) and an electrochemically active material are provided for use in electrochemical capacitors. The fibril composite electrodes exhibit high conductivity, improved efficiency of active materials, high stability, easy processing, and increase the performance of the capacitor. A method for producing the composite electrodes for use in electrochemical capacitors is also provided.