Abstract: Chars may be produced by carbonization or pyrolysis of poultry manure. Chars produced from poultry manure by the method described herein exhibit enhanced activity for metal ion adsorption.

Abstract: Methods of producing carbon nanostructures utilizing a polymer and a nanostructure template to form carbon nanostructures are disclosed. The method does not require a metal catalyst.

Abstract: A spherical activated carbon is produced from a starting pitch obtainable from a heavy hydrocarbon oil, such as petroleum tar, coal tar or ethylene, through a moderate process. The starting pitch has a softening point of at least 150° C., a toluene-insoluble content of at least 40% and a property of retaining optical isotropy even after being heated at 430° C. for 1 hour. The starting pitch is converted into a porous spherical pitch, which is then infusibilized, carbonized and activated to provide a spherical activated carbon.

Abstract: X-ray amorphous carbon is formed by evaporating carbonic material. The evaporation of carbonic material is conducted in a helium atmosphere at a supply energy flow in the range of 50 to 300 W/mm2. The energy is generated, for example, by means of an electric arc. The X-ray amorphous carbon has a starting temperature of an air oxidation, Tso, ?320° C.; a temperature of maximal rate of an air oxidation, Tomr, ?590° C.; a temperature of end of an air oxidation, Teo, ?630° C.; an initial rate of non-catalytic hydrogenolysis by molecular hydrogen at 700° C., Vhin, ?2.08% mass of carbon/h. Upon contact in a solution, 1 g of X-ray amorphous carbon consumes an amount equal to or greater than 16 mmole of MnO4? ions. Catalysts based on the X-ray amorphous carbon are used in hydrocarbon dehydrogenation and dehydrocyclization reactions.

Abstract: A method is disclosed whereby a functional nanomaterial such as a monolayer carbon nanotube, a monolayer boron nitride nanotube, a monolayer silicon carbide nanotube, a multilayer carbon nanotube with the number of layers controlled, a multilayer boron nitride nanotube with the number of layers controlled, a multilayer silicon carbide nanotube with the number of layers controlled, a metal containing fullerene, and a metal containing fullerene with the number of layers controlled is produced at a high yield. According to the method, when a multilayer carbon nanotube (3) is formed by a chemical vapor deposition or a liquid phase growth process, an endothermic reaction aid (H2S) is introduced in addition to a primary reactant (CH4, H2) in the process to form a monolayer carbon nanotube (4).

Abstract: A composition is provided in which carbon nanofibers are functionalized with at least one moiety where the moiety or moieties comprise at least one bivalent radical. The composition can include a nanocomposite, such as polyimide films. Methods for making functionalized carbon nanofibers and nanocomposites are also provided.

Abstract: Methods for heating a solid material comprising a granular material are provided. Dust is removed from the granular material before it is heated. The dust is injected into the exhaust gas from the heater. The heated dust is recovered and combined with the heated granular material.

Abstract: A mode of combustion and multi-component reactor to accomplish this mode of combustion are disclosed which produces fullerenes and fullerenic material by combustion. This mode consists of de-coupling an oxidation region of a flame from a post-flame region, thus giving greater control over operating parameters, such as equivalence ratio, temperature, and pressure; allows conditions of the operating parameters of the combustion reaction to be attained which would not be easily attained by conventional methods; and offers the ability to more easily stabilize the combustion reactions to allow for higher throughputs of fuel and oxidant. Several embodiments of a primary zone of a multi-component reactor are also disclosed. Said primary zone serves as the oxidation region, operates on the principle of providing recycle to the reacting combustion mixture, and which may be operated as approximately a well-mixed reactor.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a simple method for the synthesis of fullerenes using a mixture of liquid metallorganic precursors and liquid organic hydrocarbon solvents wherein the mixture is injected in the form of droplets into a multiple heated zone reactor tube in which the droplets are thermally decomposed and fullerenes are formed. The process is useful for the formation of all types of fullerenes, and in particular yields multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWNTs) with low defect density and controllable wt % of metal impurity atoms. In particular, a method is disclosed that produces as-grown MWNTs with less than 5 wt % metal impurity atoms. Large classes of metallorganic precursors suitable for use in the process are also identified.

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: In activated carbon obtained by subjecting a carbonaceous material to an activation treatment, the overall content of alkali metals is set at 100 ppm or less, or the overall content of heavy metals is set at 20 ppm or less and the overall content of alkali metals is set at 200 ppm or less. In cases where such activated carbon is used as a raw material in electronic devices, the formation of dendrites by the reductive deposition of alkali metals or heavy metals tends not to occur, so that problems such as short-circuiting or the like tend not to arise, and a good rate of self-discharge retention is shown.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a relatively simple CVD method for forming specifically tailored carbon-based nanostructures. In general, the method is a chemical vapor deposition method in which at least a portion of the precursor materials are provided as a liquid at atmospheric conditions. The precursor materials include at least one carbon source and at least one catalyst source. Optionally, the precursor materials can also include one or more dopant sources. The carbon source and the optional dopant source can be injected as liquids into the system, and the liquid catalyst source can be either injected into the system or located on a substrate in the reactor prior to the process. Very high yield of nanostructures exhibiting particular characteristics can be attained by the process.

Abstract: A single crystal diamond grown by microwave plasma chemical vapor deposition annealed at pressures in excess of 4.0 GPa and heated to temperature in excess of 1500 degrees C. that has a hardness of greater than 120 GPa. A method for manufacture a hard single crystal diamond includes growing a single crystal diamond and annealing the single crystal diamond at pressures in excess of 4.0 GPa and a temperature in excess of 1500 degrees C. to have a hardness in excess of 120 GPa.

Abstract: The invention is directed to carbon fibers having high tensile strength and modulus of elasticity. The invention also provides a method and apparatus for making the carbon fibers. The method comprises advancing a precursor fiber through an oxidation oven wherein the fiber is subjected to controlled stretching in an oxidizing atmosphere in which tension loads are distributed amongst a plurality of passes through the oxidation oven, which permits higher cumulative stretches to be achieved. The method also includes subjecting the fiber to controlled stretching in two or more of the passes that is sufficient to cause the fiber to undergo one or more transitions in each of the two or more passes. The invention is also directed to an oxidation oven having a plurality of cooperating drive rolls in series that can be driven independently of each other so that the amount of stretch applied to the oven in each of the plurality of passes can be independently controlled.

Abstract: Methods of aligning single walled carbon nanotube structures into selected orientations for a variety of different applications are achieved by initially dispersing the nanotube structures in aqueous solutions utilizing a suitable dispersal agent. The dispersal agent coats each individual nanotube structure in solution. The dispersal agent may be substituted with a suitable functional group that reacts with a corresponding binding site. Dispersed nanotube structures coated with substituted dispersal agents are exposed to a selected array of binding sites such that the nanotubes align with the binding sites due to the binding of the substituted functional groups with such binding sites. Alternatively, crystalline nanotube material is formed upon deposition of dispersed nanotube structures within solution into channels disposed on the surface of the substrate.

Abstract: This invention relates to adsorbents useful for storing hydrogen and other small molecules, and to methods for preparing such adsorbents. The adsorbents are produced by heating carbonaceous materials to a temperature of at least 900° C. in an atmosphere of hydrogen.

Abstract: Carbon cryogels, methods for making the carbon cryogels, methods for storing a gas using the carbon cryogels, and devices for storing and delivering a gas using the carbon cryogels.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method and apparatus for transferring an array of oriented carbon nanotubes from a first surface to a second surface by providing the array of oriented carbon nanotubes on the first surface within a vacuum chamber, providing the second surface within the vacuum chamber separate from the first surface, and applying an electric potential between the first surface and the second surface such that the array of oriented carbon nanotubes are sublimed from the first surface and re-deposited on the second surface.

Abstract: A method of forming nitrogen-doped or other Group V-doped single-walled nanotubes including: forming a catalyst metal layer on a substrate; loading a substrate having the catalyst metal layer into a reaction chamber; forming an H2O or other plasma atmosphere in a reaction chamber; and forming the nitrogen-doped or other Group V-doped carbon nanotubes on the catalyst metal layer by supplying a carbon or other Group IV precursor and a nitrogen or other Group V precursor into a reaction chamber where a chemical reaction therebetween is generated in the H2O or other plasma atmosphere.

Abstract: Activated carbon useful as polarizable electrode material for an electric double-layer capacitor can be obtained by mixing a carbonaceous material and an alkali metal hydroxide while maintaining a solid state, granulating the obtained mixture while maintaining its solid state, dehydrating the obtained granulated substance while maintaining its solid state, and subjecting the granulated dehydration product obtained in the dehydration step to an activation treatment. The preferred pressure of the granulation treatment in the granulation step is 0.01 to 300 Torr, and the preferred temperature of the granulation treatment is 90 to 140° C. The preferred pressure of the dehydration treatment in the dehydration step is 0.01 to 10 Torr, and the preferred temperature of the dehydration treatment is 200 to 400° C.