Patents Examined by Stuart L. Hendrickson
  • Patent number: 7968073
    Abstract: Methods of producing stable dispersions of single-walled carbon nanotube structures in solutions are achieved utilizing dispersal agents. The dispersal agents are effective in substantially solubilizing and dispersing single-walled carbon nanotube structures in aqueous solutions by coating the structures and increasing the surface interaction between the structures and water. Exemplary agents suitable for dispersing nanotube structures in aqueous solutions include synthetic and natural detergents having high surfactant properties, deoxycholates, cyclodextrins, chaotropic salts and ion pairing agents. The dispersed nanotube structures may further be deposited on a suitable surface in isolated and individualized form to facilitate easy characterization and further processing of the structures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2011
    Assignee: Battelle Memorial Institute
    Inventors: Mark S. F. Clarke, Daniel L. Feeback
  • Patent number: 7897131
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for manufacturing a transition metal-carbon nanotube hybrid material using nitrogen as a medium. The present invention is characterized in that nitrogen-added carbon nanotube is grown in the presence of metal catalyst particles by reacting an hydrocarbon gas with a nitrogen gas by a chemical vapor deposition (CVD) and a transition metal-carbon nanotube hybrid material where a transition metal is uniformly attached to the entire carbon nanotube structure in which nitrogen with a great chemical reactivity is added as heterogeneous elements is chemically manufactured. Therefore, the present invention does not use an acid treatment required to attach transition-metal atoms to the carbon-nanotube, a surface treating process using a surfactant and the like and an inhibitor for preventing the coagulation of the transition metal so that a simplification of the process is obtained and the method is an environment-friendly method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2011
    Assignee: Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology
    Inventors: Jeung-Ku Kang, Seong-Ho Yang, Hyun-Seok Kim, Kyu-Sung Han, Se-Yun Kim, Jung-Woo Lee, Weon-Ho Shin, Jun-Hyeon Bae
  • Patent number: 7883684
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for producing colorless, single-crystal diamonds at a rapid growth rate. The method for diamond production includes controlling temperature of a growth surface of the diamond such that all temperature gradients across the growth surface of the diamond are less than about 20° C., and growing single-crystal diamond by microwave plasma chemical vapor deposition on the growth surface of a diamond at a growth temperature in a deposition chamber having an atmosphere, wherein the atmosphere comprises from about 8% to about 20% CH4 per unit of H2 and from about 5 to about 25% O2 per unit of CH4. The method of the invention can produce diamonds larger than 10 carats. Growth rates using the method of the invention can be greater than 50 ?m/hour.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 8, 2011
    Assignee: Carnegie Institution of Washington
    Inventors: Russell J. Hemley, Ho-kwang Mao, Chih-shiue Yan
  • Patent number: 7879300
    Abstract: Method for preparing carbon nanotubes or nitrogen-doped carbon nanotubes by pyrolysis, in a reaction chamber, of a liquid containing at least one liquid hydrocarbon precursor of carbon or at least one liquid compound precursor of carbon and nitrogen consisting of carbon atoms, nitrogen atoms and optionally hydrogen atoms and/or atoms of other chemical elements such as oxygen, and optionally at least one metal compound precursor of a catalyst metal, in which said liquid is formed under pressure into finely divided liquid particles such as droplets by a specific injection system, preferably a periodic injection system, and the finely divided particles, such as droplets, formed in this way are conveyed by a carrier gas stream and introduced into the reaction chamber, where the deposition and growth of the carbon nanotubes or nitrogen-doped carbon nanotubes take place.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2011
    Assignee: Commissariat a l'Energie Atomique
    Inventors: Martine Mayne, Dominique Porterat, Frédéric Schuster
  • Patent number: 7879260
    Abstract: An object of the invention is to provide such an additive for a lithium secondary battery that improves the battery capacity and the initial efficiency of the lithium secondary battery. In the invention, a fullerene derivative having a group having a formula weight of 6 or more is used as an additive for a lithium secondary battery. A fullerene derivative having a group having a formula weight of 6 or more is contained in an anode material for a lithium secondary battery, an anode for a lithium secondary battery, and a lithium secondary battery using an anode containing the anode material. The group having a formula weight of 6 or more in the fullerene derivative is preferably one selected from the group consisting of an alkali metal atom, a chalcogen atom, a halogen atom, an aliphatic hydrocarbon group, an aromatic hydrocarbon group, a heterocyclic group, a characteristic group containing oxygen, a characteristic group containing sulfur and a characteristic group containing nitrogen.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2011
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Chemical Corporation
    Inventors: Toshiya Naruto, Akira Matsumoto, Iwao Soga
  • Patent number: 7879309
    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).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2011
    Assignee: Japan Science and Technology Agency
    Inventors: Tadashi Mitsui, Takashi Sekiguchi, Mika Gamo, Yafei Zhang, Toshihiro Ando
  • Patent number: 7829056
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a method of forming a guanidine group on carbon nanotubes to improve the dispersibility of carbon nanotubes, a method of attaching carbon nanotubes having guanidine groups to a substrate, and carbon nanotubes and a substrate manufactured by the above methods. The method of forming the guanidine group on the carbon nanotubes includes forming a carboxyl group on the carbon nanotubes, and forming the guanidine group on the carboxyl group of the carbon nanotubes. In addition, the method of attaching the carbon nanotubes having guanidine groups to the substrate includes coating a substrate with a polymer having crown ether attached thereto, drying the polymer layer having crown ether attached thereto formed on the substrate to be semi-dried, and coating the semi-dried polymer layer with a solution including carbon nanotubes having guanidine groups dispersed therein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2010
    Assignee: Samsung Electro-Mechanics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Hai Sung Lee
  • Patent number: 7814846
    Abstract: A method includes producing deposition conditions in a collection area above a reactant liquid containing one or more catalyst metals. The reactant liquid is maintained under conditions in which atoms of the catalyst metal may escape from the reactant liquid into the collection area. A suitable carrier gas is directed to traverse a surface of the reactant liquid and flow along a collection path that passes over a collection surface in the collection area. This flow of carrier gas is maintained so that escaped atoms of catalyst metal are entrained in the gas traversing the surface of the reactant liquid and are deposited on the collection surface prior to or concurrently with nanocarbon structure formation at the collection surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 19, 2010
    Assignee: Clean Technology International Corporation
    Inventor: Anthony S. Wagner
  • Patent number: 7722842
    Abstract: A method for mineral sequestration of pollutant gases resulting from the combustion of carbon-based fuels such as carbon and sulfur dioxides is provided and includes, providing a particulate magnesium-containing mineral and exposing the magnesium-containing mineral to a weak acid to dissolve magnesium from the mineral and form a magnesium-containing solution. The surface of the particulate magnesium-containing mineral is physically activated to expose and dissolve additional magnesium into the solution. Pollutant gases such as carbon dioxide are mixed with the magnesium-containing solution. When the pH of the magnesium-containing solution is increased, solid magnesium carbonate is formed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 25, 2010
    Assignee: The Ohio State University
    Inventors: Ah-Hyung Park, Liang-Shih Fan
  • Patent number: 7585484
    Abstract: An exemplary apparatus facilitates the formation of carbon nanotubes with desired tip structures. The apparatus includes a reaction chamber including a gas outlet, and an evacuation device. The reaction chamber is configured for receiving a catalyst from which the carbon nanotubes grow and providing an environment for growing the carbon nanotubes. The evacuation device includes an intake connected with the gas outlet. The evacuation device is configured for reducing an inner pressure in the reaction chamber and inducing the formation of carbon nanotubes with desired tip structures. Methods for synthesizing carbon nanotubes with desired tip structures are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2009
    Assignees: Tsinghua University, Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Ka Liu, Kai-Li Jiang, Shou-Shan Fan
  • Patent number: 7563427
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for continuous production of carbon nanotubes in a nano-agglomerate fluidized bed, which comprises the following steps: loading transition metal compounds on a support, obtaining supported nanosized metal catalysts by reducing or dissociating, catalytically decomposing a carbon-source gas, and growing carbon nanotubes on the catalyst support by chemical vapor deposition of carbon atoms. The carbon nanotubes are 4˜100 nm in diameter and 0.5˜1000 ?m in length. The carbon nanotube agglomerates, ranged between 1˜1000 ?m, are smoothly fluidized under 0.005 to 2 m/s superficial gas velocity and 20˜800 kg/m3 bed density in the fluidized-bed reactor. The apparatus is simple and easy to operate, has a high reaction rate, and it can be used to produce carbon nanotubes with high degree of crystallization, high purity, and high yield.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 21, 2009
    Assignee: Tsinghua University
    Inventors: Fei Wei, Yao Wang, Guohua Luo, Hao Yu, Zhifei Li, Weizhong Qian, Zhanwen Wang, Yong Jin
  • Patent number: 7563426
    Abstract: A method includes producing deposition conditions in a collection area above a reactant liquid containing one or more catalyst metals. The reactant liquid is maintained under conditions in which atoms of the catalyst metal may escape from the reactant liquid into the collection area. A suitable carrier gas is directed to traverse a surface of the reactant liquid and flow along a collection path that passes over a collection surface in the collection area. This flow of carrier gas is maintained so that escaped atoms of catalyst metal are entrained in the gas traversing the surface of the reactant liquid and are deposited on the collection surface prior to or concurrently with nanocarbon structure formation at the collection surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 21, 2009
    Assignee: Clean Technologies International Corporation
    Inventor: Anthony S. Wagner
  • Patent number: 7556746
    Abstract: Certain spin-coatable liquids and application techniques are described, which can be used to form nanotube films or fabrics of controlled properties. A method of making an applicator liquid containing nanotubes for use in an electronics fabrication process includes characterizing an electronic fabrication process according to fabrication compatible solvents and allowable levels of metallic and particle impurities; providing nanotubes that satisfy the allowable impurities criteria for the electronics fabrication process; providing a solvent that meets the fabrication compatible solvents and allowable impurities criteria for the electronic fabrication process; and dispersing the nanotubes into the solvent at a concentration of at least one milligram of nanotubes per liter solvent to form an applicator liquid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2009
    Assignee: Nantero, Inc.
    Inventors: Rahul Sen, Ramesh Sivarajan, Thomas Rueckes, Brent M. Segal
  • Patent number: 7550128
    Abstract: A method includes liberating carbon atoms from hydrocarbon molecules by reaction with or in a reactant liquid and maintaining the liberated carbon atoms in an excited state. The chemically excited liberated carbon atoms are then enabled to traverse a surface of the reactant liquid and are directed across a collection surface. The collection surface and the conditions at and around the collection surface are maintained so that the liberated carbon atoms in the excited state phase change to a ground state by carbon nanostructure self-assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2009
    Assignee: Clean Technologies International Corporation
    Inventor: Anthony S. Wagner
  • Patent number: 7547429
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a fullerene derivative having a partial structure represented by the general formula (I): wherein C1 to C8 are carbon atoms constituting a fullerene skeleton in which C6 to C8 are independently bonded to an organic group having 1 to 50 carbon atoms, and C1 is bonded to a substituted or unsubstituted alkyl group having 1 to 20 carbon atoms.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 16, 2009
    Assignees: Mitsubishi Chemical Corporation
    Inventors: Eiichi Nakamura, Yutaka Matsuo
  • Patent number: 7514060
    Abstract: A method for producing a porous potassium carbonate, which comprises calcining potassium hydrogen carbonate crystals having a mean particle diameter of from 100 to 1,000 ?m at a temperature of the object to be calcined of from 100 to 500° C., while introducing a dry gas which has a dew point of not higher than 0° C. and a temperature of from 10 to 50° C.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2009
    Assignee: Asahi Glass Company, Limited
    Inventors: Hachiro Hirano, Yasunori Yamaguchi, Minako Okamura
  • Patent number: 7501108
    Abstract: A method is provided for exfoliation of carbon nanotubes and for the preparation of a stable aqueous suspension thereof containing dispersed, essentially single tubes, using a water-soluble polymeric material. A powder of carbon nanotubes is further provided, that can be re-dispersed to form a stable suspension. The nanotubes can be used in electronics, printing, coatings, thin layers, molecular machines, and for the production of composite materials.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2009
    Assignee: Ben-Gurion University of the Negev Research & Development Authority
    Inventors: Rachel Yerushalmi-Rozen, Oren Regev
  • Patent number: 7485280
    Abstract: To provide carbon black which improves the electrical conductivity and flowability of a resin composition. Carbon black characterized by having the following characteristics: 24M4DBP absorption: At least 130 cm3/100 g (1,500° C.×30 min) dehydrogenation amount: At most 1.2 mg/g Crystallite size Lc: From 10 to 17 ? More preferably, it has the following characteristics: Nitrogen adsorption specific surface area: from 150 to 300 m2/g Average particle diameter: from 14 to 24 nm CTAB adsorption specific surface area: from 120 to 220 m2/g DBP absorption: from 150 to 400 cm3/100 g Oxygen-containing functional group density: at most 3 ?mol/m2.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2009
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Chemical Corporation
    Inventors: Akihiro Matsuki, Shinichi Kanamaru, Yutaka Fukuyama, Nobutake Mise, Eihachi Takamura
  • Patent number: 7476375
    Abstract: A fusion fuel composition has two or more light nuclei combined with a cage-like molecule. The light nuclei may be, for example, deuterium and tritium, and the cage-like molecule may be, for example, a fullerene molecule. A fusion reaction to consume the fusion fuel may be ignited, for example, via compression methods including chemical or laser.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 13, 2009
    Assignee: Carbon Labs, Inc.
    Inventor: Edward Donald Miller
  • Patent number: 7473411
    Abstract: A method of making a carbon nanotube structure includes providing an array of substantially aligned carbon nanotubes, wetting the array with a liquid, and evaporating the liquid to form the carbon nanotube structure having a pattern in the carbon nanotube array. The structure is preferably a carbon nanotube foam.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2009
    Assignee: Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
    Inventors: Pulickel Ajayan, Alvaro Carrillo, Nirupama Chakrapani, Ravi S. Kane, Bingqing Wei