Abstract: This invention provides an aligned single-layer carbon nanotube bulk structure, which comprises an assembly of a plurality of aligned single-layer carbon nanotube and has a height of not less than 10 ?m, and an aligned single-layer carbon nanotube bulk structure which comprises an assembly of a plurality of aligned single-layer carbon nanotubes and has been patterned in a predetermined form. This structure is produced by chemical vapor deposition (CVD) of carbon nanotubes in the presence of a metal catalyst in a reaction atmosphere with an oxidizing agent, preferably water, added thereto. An aligned single-layer carbon nanotube bulk structure, which has realized high purify and significantly large scaled length or height, its production process and apparatus, and its applied products are provided.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus for efficiently producing a high-purity CNT assembly of a high specific surface area are provided in which a feedstock gas is contacted to a catalyst in an optimum form for CNT growth. A carbon nanotube producing apparatus of the present invention includes: a synthesis furnace; a gas supply pipe and a gas exhaust pipe in communication with the synthesis furnace; heating means that heats inside of the synthesis furnace to a predetermined temperature; and gas blowing means that blows a feedstock gas into the synthesis furnace after the feedstock gas is supplied through the gas supply pipe. The feedstock gas supplied through the gas supply pipe is supplied into a heating region of the synthesis furnace heated by the heating means, so as to produce a carbon nanotube from a surface of a catalyst layer provided on a base. The feedstock gas is evacuated through the gas exhaust pipe.

Abstract: A carbon nanotubes (CNTs)-containing resin composite comprised of a synthetic resin-impregnated aligned CNTs aggregate to have a specific surface area of at least 600 m2/g. Its production method comprises a step of laying down an aligned CNTs aggregate having grown perpendicularly from a substrate, a step of impregnating the laid-down aligned CNTs aggregate with a resin, and a step of shaping the resin-impregnated aligned CNTs aggregate into a sheet. Accordingly, there are provided a CNTs-containing resin composite having a high CNT content and a high degree of alignment and having a desired shape capable of fully taking the advantages of anisotropy intrinsic to CNTs, and a production method capable of producing it with ease.

Abstract: An aligned carbon nanotube bulk structure capable of attaining high density and high hardness not found so far. The aligned carbon nanotube bulk structure has a plurality of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) applied with a density-increasing treatment, and having alignment in a predetermined direction, the structure has a degree of anisotropy of 1:3 or more between the direction of alignment and the direction vertical to the direction of alignment, and the intensity by irradiating X-rays along the direction of alignment is higher than the intensity by irradiating X-rays from the direction vertical to the direction of alignment at a (002) peak in X-ray diffraction data, and the degree of alignment thereof satisfies predetermined conditions.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method for continuously and stably producing a CNT assembly having a high specific surface area in a catalyst activating substance-containing, high-carbon-concentration environment. Specifically disclosed is a method for growing a carbon nanotube by contacting a feedstock gas and a catalyst-activating substance to a catalyst on a base.

Abstract: The electrode material includes metal oxide nanoparticles formed by applying shear force and centrifugal force to reactants containing a reaction inhibitor in a rotating reaction vessel during a chemical reaction; and carbon nanotubes with a specific area of 600 to 2600 m2/g to which shear force and centrifugal force are applied for dispersion in the rotating reaction vessel during the chemical reaction. The metal oxide particles are highly dispersed and carried on the carbon nanotubes. Preferably, the metal oxide is lithium titanate.

Abstract: This invention provides an aligned single-layer carbon nanotube bulk structure, which comprises an assembly of a plurality of aligned single-layer carbon nanotube and has a height of not less than 10 ?m, and an aligned single-layer carbon nanotube bulk structure which comprises an assembly of a plurality of aligned single-layer carbon nanotubes and has been patterned in a predetermined form. This structure is produced by chemical vapor deposition (CVD) of carbon nanotubes in the presence of a metal catalyst in a reaction atmosphere with an oxidizing agent, preferably water, added thereto. An aligned single-layer carbon nanotube bulk structure, which has realized high purify and significantly large scaled length or height, its production process and apparatus, and its applied products are provided.

Abstract: This invention provides an aligned single-walled CNT aggregate comprising a substrate, fine particles of iron catalyst with a density of 1×1011 to 1×1014/cm2 disposed on an alumina co-catalyst above the substrate, and a plurality of single-walled CNTs grown from the fine particles of the iron catalyst, in which the plurality of single-walled CNTs have a specific surface area of 600 m2/g to 2600 m2/g, and a weight density from 0.002 g/cm3 to 0.2 g/cm3, and the alignment degree which satisfies a few of specific conditions. This invention also provides a bulk aligned single-walled carbon nanotube aggregate and a powdered aligned single-walled carbon nanotube aggregate.

Abstract: Provided is a production apparatus (100) for continuously producing aligned carbon nanotube aggregates on a substrate supporting a catalyst while continuously transferring the substrate. The production apparatus (100) includes gas mixing prevention means (12, 13) for preventing gas present outside a growth furnace (3a) from flowing into the growth furnace (3a). The gas mixing prevention means (12, 13) includes a seal gas ejection section (12b, 13b) so that the seal gas does not flow into the growth furnace through the openings of the growth furnace. The production apparatus prevents the outside air from flowing into the production apparatus, uniformly controls, within a range suitable to production of CNTs, a concentration distribution(s) and a flow rate distribution(s) of a raw material gas and/or a catalyst activation material on the substrate, and does not disturb gas flow as much as possible in the growth furnace.

Abstract: This invention provides an aligned single-layer carbon nanotube bulk structure, which comprises an assembly of a plurality of aligned single-layer carbon nanotube and has a height of not less than 10 ?m, and an aligned single-layer carbon nanotube bulk structure which comprises an assembly of a plurality of aligned single-layer carbon nanotubes and has been patterned in a predetermined form. This structure is produced by chemical vapor deposition (CVD) of carbon nanotubes in the presence of a metal catalyst in a reaction atmosphere with an oxidizing agent, preferably water, added thereto. An aligned single-layer carbon nanotube bulk structure, which has realized high purify and significantly large scaled length or height, its production process and apparatus, and its applied products are provided.

Abstract: A substrate of the present invention for producing aligned carbon nanotube aggregates on a surface thereof is a substrate for producing aligned carbon nanotube aggregates on a surface thereof, the substrate for producing aligned carbon nanotube aggregates including: a metal base substrate; and carburizing prevention layers formed on both front and back surfaces of the metal base substrate, respectively.

Abstract: An apparatus of the present invention for producing aligned carbon nanotube aggregates is an apparatus for producing aligned carbon nanotube aggregates, the apparatus being configured to grow the aligned carbon nanotube aggregate by: causing a catalyst formed on a surface of a substrate to be surrounded by a reducing gas environment constituted by a reducing gas; heating at least either the catalyst or the reducing gas; causing the catalyst to be surrounded by a raw material gas environment constituted by a raw material gas; and heating at least either the catalyst or the raw material gas, at least either an apparatus component exposed to the reducing gas or an apparatus component exposed to the raw material gas being made from a heat-resistant alloy, and having a surface plated with molten aluminum.

Abstract: An electrochemical capacitor comprising a nonaqueous electrolyte and a pair of polarizable electrodes, wherein carbon nanotubes are used as an electrode material for at least one of the positive electrode and the negative electrode, the carbon nanotubes have a specific surface area of at least 700 m2/g and contain semiconductive carbon nanotubes, and the electrode material exhibits a voltage dependency of differential capacity by electrochemical doping. The electrochemical capacitor solves the problems associated with activated carbon electrodes and, exploiting the excellent characteristics of carbon nanotubes, has increased capacitance and increased energy density, therefore realizing a reduced internal resistance and a prolonged service life.

Abstract: The present invention provides an actuator exhibiting improved performance. The actuator is formed of an electrically conductive thin film formed from an ionic liquid and carbon nanotubes having an aspect ratio of not less than 104; or an electrically conductive thin film formed from an ionic liquid and carbon nanotubes having a length of not less than 50 ?m.

Abstract: This invention provides an aligned single-layer carbon nanotube bulk structure, which comprises an assembly of a plurality of aligned single-layer carbon nanotube and has a height of not less than 10 ?m, and an aligned single-layer carbon nanotube bulk structure which comprises an assembly of a plurality of aligned single-layer carbon nanotubes and has been patterned in a predetermined form. This structure is produced by chemical vapor deposition (CVD) of carbon nanotubes in the presence of a metal catalyst in a reaction atmosphere with an oxidizing agent, preferably water, added thereto. An aligned single-layer carbon nanotube bulk structure, which has realized high purify and significantly large scaled length or height, its production process and apparatus, and its applied products are provided.

Abstract: An apparatus of the present invention for producing an aligned carbon-nanotube aggregate is an apparatus for producing an aligned carbon-nanotube aggregate by synthesizing the aligned carbon-nanotube aggregate on a base material having a catalyst on a surface thereof, the apparatus including: a formation unit that processes a formation step of causing an environment surrounding the catalyst to be an environment of a reducing gas and heating at least either the catalyst or the reducing gas; a growth unit that processes a growth step of synthesizing the aligned carbon-nanotube aggregate by causing the environment surrounding the catalyst to be an environment of a raw material gas and by heating at least either the catalyst or the raw material gas; and a transfer unit that transfers the base material at least from the formation unit to the growth unit.

Abstract: A method of producing a carbon nanotube film structure having a substrate and a carbon nanotube layer, comprises a placing step of placing a carbon nanotube film comprising a plurality of carbon nanotubes aligned in one direction within a film plane on the substrate; and a densifying step of applying a densifying treatment to the carbon nanotube film thereby forming the carbon nanotube layer having the weight density of the carbon nanotube to 0.1 g/cm3 or more. Thus, a problem of island-like shrinkage caused while a highly densified CNT layer is being manufactured is solved, and a high-quality CNT film structure wherein the aligned CNT layer having a high density and uniform thickness is deposited on the substrate.

Abstract: Belt reversing mechanisms configured to reverse a belt at an upstream portion and a downstream portion of a return belt of a belt conveyor, includes two sets of pinch rollers spaced apart from each other in a belt movement direction and configured to support the belt, and two sets of guide roller mechanisms spaced apart from each other in the belt movement direction and are configured to guide the belt in a tubular shape from outside between the pinch rollers such that the belt is reversed 180 degrees and twisted to cause a center portion of a span between the pinch rollers so as to form a tubular open cross-section with a dirty surface facing inward; and the belt between the two sets of pinch rollers forms a catenary curve or a curve close to the catenary curve.

Abstract: An apparatus of the present invention for producing an aligned carbon-nanotube aggregate is an apparatus for producing an aligned carbon-nanotube aggregate by synthesizing the aligned carbon-nanotube aggregate on a base material having a catalyst on a surface thereof, the apparatus including: a formation unit that processes a formation step of causing an environment surrounding the catalyst to be an environment of a reducing gas and heating at least either the catalyst or the reducing gas; a growth unit that processes a growth step of synthesizing the aligned carbon-nanotube aggregate by causing the environment surrounding the catalyst to be an environment of a raw material gas and by heating at least either the catalyst or the raw material gas; and a transfer unit that transfers the base material at least from the formation unit to the growth unit.

Abstract: This invention provides an aligned single-walled CNT aggregate comprising a substrate, fine particles of iron catalyst with a density of 1×1011 to 1×1014/cm2 disposed on an alumina co-catalyst above the substrate, and a plurality of single-walled CNTs grown from the fine particles of the iron catalyst, in which the plurality of single-walled CNTs have a specific surface area of 600 m2/g to 2600 m2/g, and a weight density from 0.002 g/cm3 to 0.2 g/cm3, and the alignment degree which satisfies a few of specific conditions. This invention also provides a bulk aligned single-walled carbon nanotube aggregate and a powdered aligned single-walled carbon nanotube aggregate.