Abstract: Disclosed are methods for isolating and purifying single wall carbon nanotubes from contaminant matrix material, methods for forming arrays of substantially aligned nanotubes, and products and apparatus comprising a plurality of nanotube structures.

Abstract: A method for forming a carbon nanotube array using a metal substrate includes the following steps: providing a metal substrate (11); oxidizing the metal substrate to form an oxidized layer (21) thereon; depositing a catalyst layer (31) on the oxidized layer; introducing a carbon source gas; and thus forming a carbon nanotube array (61) extending from the metal substrate. Generally, any metallic material can be used as the metal substrate. Various carbon nanotube arrays formed using various metal substrates can be incorporated into a wide variety of high power electronic device applications such as field emission devices (FEDs), electron guns, and so on. Carbon nanotubes formed using any of a variety of metal substrates are well aligned, and uniformly extend in a direction substantially perpendicular to the metal substrate.

Abstract: A carbon nanotube-based device (40) includes a substrate (10), a number of catalytic nano-sized particles (131) formed on the substrate, and an aligned carbon nanotube array (15) extending from the alloy catalytic nano-sized particles. The aligned carbon nanotube array progressively bends in a predetermined direction. A method for making the carbon nanotube-based device includes the steps of: providing a substrate; depositing a layer of catalyst on the substrate; depositing a layer of catalyst dopant material on the catalyst layer, for varying a reaction rate of synthesis of the aligned carbon nanotube array; annealing the catalyst and the catalyst dopant material in an oxygen-containing gas at a low temperature; and exposing the nano-sized particles and catalyst dopant material to a carbon-containing source gas at a predetermined temperature such that the aligned carbon nanotube array grows from the substrate.

Abstract: The present invention concerns a method for growing carbon nanotubes using a catalyst system that preferentially promotes the growth of single- and double-wall carbon nanotubes, rather than larger multi-walled carbon nanotubes. Ropes of the carbon nanotubes are formed that comprise single-wall and/or double-wall carbon nanotubes.

Abstract: A carbon nanotube-based device includes a substrate (10); a catalyst layer (13) disposed on the substrate, the catalyst layer comprising a number of nano-sized catalyst particles (131), a size of the catalyst particles decreasing along a given direction; and an array of aligned carbon nanotubes (14) extending from the catalyst layer in an arc toward the given direction. A method for making the carbon nanotube based device includes the steps of: (1) providing a substrate; (2) forming a catalyst layer on the substrate, a thickness of the catalyst layer decreasing along a given direction; (3) annealing the treated substrate in air to form nano-sized catalyst particles; (4) introducing a carbon source gas; and (5) forming an array of carbon nanotubes extending from the catalyst particles using a chemical vapor deposition method.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: A method for separating single-wall carbon nanotubes from an aqueous slurry comprises adding a water-immiscible organic solvent to an aqueous slurry comprising single-wall carbon nanotubes, isolating at least some of the single-wall carbon nanotubes in the solvent, and removing the solvent from the single-wall carbon nanotubes to form dried single-wall carbon nanotubes. A spheroidal aggregate of single-wall carbon nanotubes is formed wherein the aggregate is approximately spherical and has a diameter in a range of about 0.1 and about 5 mm, and wherein the aggregate contains at least about 80 wt % single-wall carbon nanotubes. The spheroidal aggregates of single-wall carbon nanotubes are easily handled in industrial processes and are redispersable to single-wall carbon nanotubes and/or ropes of single-wall carbon nanotubes. This invention can also be applied to multi-wall carbon nanotubes.

Abstract: A process for selectively removing carbon dioxide from a gaseous stream by converting the carbon dioxide to a solid, stable form is provided. In a sequestration process, carbon dioxide enriched air is passed through a gas diffusion membrane to transfer the carbon dioxide to a fluid medium. The carbon dioxide rich fluid is then passed through a matrix containing a catalyst specific for carbon dioxide, which accelerates the conversion of the carbon dioxide to carbonic acid. In the final step, a mineral ion is added to the reaction so that a precipitate of carbonate salt is formed. This solid mineral precipitate can be safely stored for extended periods of time, such as by burying the precipitate in the ground or depositing the precipitate into storage sites either on land or into a body of water. An apparatus for removing carbon dioxide from a gaseous stream is also provided.

Abstract: A simple chemical technique has been developed to grow large quantity of carbon nanostructures, including carbon nanotubes, hydrocarbon nanotubes and carbon nanoonions, in the organic solution at ambient (room) temperature and atmospheric pressure using silicon nanostructures (nanowires, nanodots, ribbons, and porous silicon) as starting materials. These CNT and CNO have the lattice d-spacing from 3.4 ? to 5 ?.

Abstract: The invention provides a method of functionalizing the sidewalls of a plurality of carbon nanotubes with oxygen moieties, the method comprising: exposing a carbon nanotube dispersion to an ozone/oxygen mixture to form a plurality of ozonized carbon nanotubes; and contacting the plurality of ozonized carbon nanotubes with a cleaving agent to form a plurality of sidewall-functionalized carbon nanotubes.

Abstract: This invention provides a stepped heating cycle for the pre-treatment of phenolic microballoons prior to carbonization thereof, wherein the heating cycle comprises the steps of sequentially: gradually elevating the temperature of the microballoons to a temperature in the range 100° C.–170° C.; holding the microballoons at the elevated temperature for 1–24 hours; and gradually cooling the microballoons. This invention also provides a heat-dissipation reactor (11, 21, 31) which comprises a walled reaction chamber having a bottom and no top, the reaction chamber being fitted with high thermal conductivity inserts. When used in accordance with this invention (61), the volume within the walls of the reaction chamber is charged with phenolic resin microballoons. In a preferred embodiment, the reaction chamber (11, 21) is subdivided into a plurality of subchambers by a vertical grid of aluminum plates (19, 29).

Abstract: An isotropic carbon alloy is formed from various carbon allotropes such as SWCNT, fullerenes, MWCNT, diamond-like carbon, diamond, nanocrystalline diamond, diamondoids, amorphous carbon, graphitic polyhedral crystals, graphite, graphene, HOPG, and hydrogenated amorphous carbon. The SWCNTs are present in different morphologies such as ropes, bundles, single filaments, tangled webs, etc. The SWCNT have large aspect ratios and weave throughout the alloy. Many morphologies of ICA are possible with a range of properties attainable as a function of the composition of carbon allotropes and post-processing techniques. Post-processing can be done to enhance particular properties of the ICA and may include HIP, furnace heating, ion beam irradiation, electron beam irradiation, laser irradiation, electric resistive heating, inductive heating, IR irradiation, etc. Contaminants may be present in the ICA as a consequence of the process equipment, process feedstock, or catalysts used in the reactors.

Abstract: A carbon material for producing endohedral metallofullerenes in a high yield is made of a mixture of a metal or metal compound with a carbonaceous material and is used in producing a endohedral metallofullerenes, wherein said carbon material contains a metal carbide and a bulk density of said carbon material is set to 1.80 g/cm3 or less.

Abstract: A carbon nanotube manufacturing method is provided. In the carbon nanotube manufacturing method, carbon nanoparticles are dispersed in a strong acid solution and heated at a predetermined temperature under reflux to form carbon nanotubes from the carbon nanoparticles. The carbon nanotubes can be simply produced on a mass-scale at low costs by using the strong acid solution.

Abstract: To provide an ink for producing a catalyst capable of stably forming metal particles which act as catalysts suitable for growth of carbon fibers by applying them onto a substrate. A solution containing a metal organic compound containing any one metal of Pd, Fe, Co and Ni and a water-soluble polymer compound is formed by using water or an organic solvent as a main solvent.

Abstract: To produce a carbonized product used for producing activated carbon for en electrode of an electric double-layer capacitor, a condensed polycyclic aromatic pitch having an optical anisotropic rate Oa in a range of 1%?Oa?90% and a softening point Ts in a range of 140° C.?Ts?260° C. is subjected to an oxygen crosslinking treatment at a heating temperature Th set at Th<260° C. to provide an organic material for a carbonized product having a light component content L equal to or higher than 14.5% by weight, and the organic material is subjected to a carbonizing treatment at a temperature-raising rate Rt set at Rt?500° C./hr and at a heating temperature Th set in a range of 600° C.?Th?1,000° C. for a heating time t set at t?2 hr.

Abstract: A novel carbon nanotube-carbon nanohorn complex produced by a method comprising step 1 for irradiating carbon nanotube placed in a liquid solvent with ultrasonic wave to disperse carbon nanotube into the liquid solvent, and step 2 for adding carbon nanohorn aggregate to the liquid solvent dispersed with carbon nanotube to thus remove the liquid solvent, whereby the surface of the carbon nanotube and the carbon nanohorn aggregate can be utilized more effectively and the availability can be enlarged.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: A non-catalytic process for the production of carbon nanotubes includes supplying an electric current to a carbon anode and a carbon cathode which have been securely positioned in the open atmosphere with a gap between them. The electric current creates an electric arc between the carbon anode and the carbon cathode, which causes carbon to be vaporized from the carbon anode and a carbonaceous residue to be deposited on the carbon cathode. Inert gas is pumped into the gap to flush out oxygen, thereby preventing interference with the vaporization of carbon from the anode and preventing oxidation of the carbonaceous residue being deposited on the cathode. The anode and cathode are cooled while electric current is being supplied thereto. When the supply of electric current is terminated, the carbonaceous residue is removed from the cathode and is purified to yield carbon nanotubes.

Abstract: A method for producing fullerenes, characterized in that said method includes a step (a) of contacting an aromatic compound-containing starting material with a supercritical fluid or a subcritical fluid in the presence of a transition metal element-containing catalyst at a temperature in a range of from 350 to 800° C. and at a pressure in a range of from 3 to 50 MPa. Said supercritical fluid or said subcritical fluid is formed from one or more kinds of materials selected from the group consisting of an aromatic compound as said starting material, a solvent for said aromatic compound, a solvent for said catalyst, water, dinitrogen monoxide, and ammonia.