Abstract: A supported catalyst comprising a carbon fibril aggregate and a catalytically effective amount of a catalyst supported therein, a process for performing a catalytic reaction in fluid phase using the supported catalyst and a process for making the supported catalyst are disclosed.

Abstract: The invention relates to an interpenetrating network of carbon fibrils and a polymer, which comprises a rigidized, three-dimensional macroscopic assemblage of a multiplicity of randomly oriented carbon fibrils and an innerpenetrating mass of an organic polymer. The invention also relates to methods of making and using such innerpenetrating networks.

Abstract: A high surface area carbon nanofiber is provided. The carbon nanofiber has an outer surface on which a porous high surface area layer is formed. A method of making the high surface area carbon nanofiber includes pyrolizing a polymeric coating substance provided on the outer surface of the carbon nanofiber at a temperature below the temperature at which the polymeric coating substance melts. The polymeric coating substance used as the high surface area around the carbon nanofiber may include phenolics-formaldehyde, polyacrylonitrile, styrene, divinyl benzene, cellulosic polymers and cyclotrimerized diethynyl benzene. The high surface area polymer which covers the carbon nanofiber may be functionalized with one or more functional groups.

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: 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. Preferred nanofibers have a surface area greater than about 200 m.sup.2 /gm and are substantially free of micropores.

Abstract: The general area of this invention relates to porous materials made from nanofiber packed beds. More particularly, the invention relates to altering the porosity or packing structure of a nanofiber packed bed structure by blending nanofibers with scaffold particulates having larger dimensions. For example, adding large diameter fibers to a nanotube packed bed to serve as a scaffolding to hold the smaller nanofibers apart and prevent the nanofiber bed structure from collapsing. This increases the average pore size of the mass by changing the pore size distribution and alters the packing structure of the packed bed. The increase in average pore size is caused by the creation of larger channels which improves the flow of liquids or gasses through these materials.

Abstract: The invention relates to an interpenetrating network of carbon fibrils and a polymer, which comprises a rigidized, three-dimensional macroscopic assemblage of a multiplicity of randomly oriented carbon fibrils and an innerpenetrating mass of an organic polymer. The invention also relates to methods of making and using such innerpenetrating networks.

Abstract: A method of oxidizing the surface of carbon microfibers that includes contacting the microfibers with an oxidizing agent that includes sulfuric acid and potassium chlorate under reaction conditions sufficient to oxidize the surface. The invention also features a method of decreasing the length of carbon microfibers that includes contacting the microfibers with an oxidizing agent under reaction conditions sufficient to decrease the length.

Abstract: A transparent electrically conductive film having a surface resistivity of 10.sup.2 -10.sup.10 .OMEGA./.sup..quadrature., an overall light transmittance of at least 70%, and a haze value of at most 20% comprises an organic or inorganic transparent matrix having dispersed therein 0.01%-1 wt % of hollow carbon microfibers and 1%-40 wt % of an electrically conductive metal oxide powder (such as antimony-doped tin oxide) with an average primary particle diameter of 0.5 .mu.m or smaller. The matrix can be an organic polymer which is thermoplastic, thermosetting, or curable by ultraviolet radiation, or a metal oxide sol which can form an inorganic glass film, a hydrolyzable or heat decomposable organic metal compound, or the like.

Abstract: A lithium battery characterized in that the anode (1) is formed from a carbon fibril material comprised of an aggregate of fibrils or non-aggregated mass of fibrils having an average particle diameter of 0.1 to 100 microns in which fine, filiform carbon fibrils of 3.5 to 75 nm an in diameter are intertwinned with each other, and fibrils being intercalated with lithium. The cathode (3) also contains carbon fibrils.

Abstract: Products containing carbon fibrils having a morphology of vermicular tubes that are free of a continuous thermal carbon overcoat and have graphitic layers, wherein the length of the projection of the graphitic layers on the fibril axis extends along the axis for a distance of at least two fibril diameters. The fibrils are used to form composites, adsorbents and mats.

Abstract: This invention relates to a method for disentangling hollow carbon microfibers and to the dispersion of hollow carbon microfibers, preferably having an outer diameter of 3.5 to 70 nm and an aspect ratio of at least 5, to form transparent electrically conductive films. Hollow carbon microfibers, treated with strong acids such as sulfuric acid or oleum and an oxidizing agent such as nitric acid, are disentangled and dispersed homogeneously in a polar solvent. The slurry in which the microfibers are suspended can be coated on a substrate. The coating film is dried and a transparent electrically conductive film is formed. A carbon microfiber aggregation film with excellent transparency is obtained having a total transmittance of at least 80 percent and a haze value of at most 0.1%.

Abstract: Silicon nitride nanowhiskers predominantly having diameters substantially less than about 200 nm are disclosed. The nanowhiskers of Si.sub.3 N.sub.4 are produced by reacting gaseous SiO and N.sub.2 at elevated temperature and pressure in a reaction zone in the presence of a plurality of disperse carbon nanotubes having a diameter of from 3.5 to 70 nm.

Abstract: The general area of this invention relates to porous materials made from nanofiber packed beds. More particularly, the invention relates to altering the porosity or packing structure of a nanofiber packed bed structure by blending nanofibers with scaffold particulates having larger dimensions. For example, adding large diameter fibers to a nanotube packed bed to serve as a scaffolding to hold the smaller nanofibers apart and prevent the nanofiber bed structure from collapsing. This increases the average pore size of the mass by changing the pore size distribution and alters the packing structure of the packed bed. The increase in average pore size is caused by the creation of larger channels which improves the flow of liquids or gasses through these materials.

Abstract: A compounding process for preparing a composite that includes introducing one or more fillers and a matrix material into a stirred ball mill and subjecting the fillers and the matrix material to a combination of shear and impact forces under reaction conditions including reaction time sufficient to reduce the size of agglomerates formed by the fillers to a value below a pre-determined value to disperse the fillers throughout the matrix material.

Abstract: A fibril aggregate that includes a multiplicity of carbon fibrils whose longitudinal axes have substantially the same relative orientation, each of the fibrils characterized as having graphitic layers that are substantially parallel to its longitudinal axis and being free of a continuous thermal carbon overcoat, and a method of preparing such aggregates.

Abstract: A volume of carbon fibrils that includes a multiplicity of fibrils having a morphology consisting of vermicular tubes that are free of a continuous thermal carbon overcoat and have graphite layers that are substantially parallel to the fibril axis and a process for preparing such fibrils.

Abstract: A polymeric composition having improved toughness and conductivity comprising carbon fibrils, at least a portion of which are in the form of aggregates, wherein, as measured on an area basis, substantially all of the aggregates are less than about 35 .mu.m in diameter. A polymeric composition having improved toughness and conductivity is prepared by combining carbon fibrils, at least a portion of which are in the form of aggregates, with a polymeric material, mixing the combination to distribute the fibrils in the polymeric material and applying shear to the combination to break down the aggregates until substantially all of the aggregates are less than about 35 .mu.m in diameter.

Abstract: This invention relates to a method of supporting a catalyst which involves attaching a catalyst to either a furry fiber, a furry plate or a discrete carbon fibril. The furry fiber or furry plate include a carbon fiber or plate and a plurality of carbon fibrils adhering to the outer surface of the carbon fiber or plate.

Abstract: A polymeric composition having improved toughness and conductivity comprising carbon fibrils, at least a portion of which are in the form of aggregates, wherein, as measured on an area basis, substantially all of the aggregates are less than about 35 .mu.m in diameter. A polymeric composition having improved toughness and conductivity is prepared by combining carbon fibrils, at least a portion of which are in the form of aggregates, with a polymeric material, mixing the combination to distribute the fibrils in the polymeric material and applying shear to the combination to break down the aggregates until substantially all of the aggregates are less than about 35 .mu.m in diameter.