Patents Examined by Rebecca M. Stadler
  • Patent number: 6998103
    Abstract: Method for producing carbon nanotubes. Carbon nanotubes were prepared using a low power, atmospheric pressure, microwave-generated plasma torch system. After generating carbon monoxide microwave plasma, a flow of carbon monoxide was directed first through a bed of metal particles/glass beads and then along the outer surface of a ceramic tube located in the plasma. As a flow of argon was introduced into the plasma through the ceramic tube, ropes of entangled carbon nanotubes, attached to the surface of the tube, were produced. Of these, longer ropes formed on the surface portion of the tube located in the center of the plasma. Transmission electron micrographs of individual nanotubes revealed that many were single-walled.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2006
    Assignee: The Regents of the University of California
    Inventors: Jonathan Phillips, William L. Perry, Chun-Ku Chen
  • Patent number: 6953564
    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 at a temperature in a range of from 31° C. to 500° C. and at a pressure in a range of from 3.8 MPa to 60 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 capable of dissolving said aromatic compound, water, dinitrogen monoxide, and ammonia.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2002
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2005
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Soichiro Kawakami, Tomoya Yamamoto, Hitomi Sano