Patents by Inventor Motoo Yumura

Motoo Yumura has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 11084725
    Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a CNT yarn having excellent conductivity and strength, and a method for producing the same. The present invention provides a drawn yarn comprising carbon nanotubes and having a drawing rate of 10 to 50%.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2021
    Assignee: NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF ADVANCED INDUSTRIAL SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
    Inventors: Ken Mukai, Kinji Asaka, Takeshi Saito, Motoo Yumura
  • Publication number: 20190210878
    Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a CNT yarn having excellent conductivity and strength, and a method for producing the same. The present invention provides a drawn yarn comprising carbon nanotubes and having a drawing rate of 10 to 50%.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 13, 2019
    Publication date: July 11, 2019
    Applicant: NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF ADVANCED INDUSTRIAL SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
    Inventors: Ken MUKAI, Kinji ASAKA, Takeshi SAITO, Motoo YUMURA
  • Patent number: 10273157
    Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a CNT yarn having excellent conductivity and strength, and a method for producing the same. The present invention provides a drawn yarn comprising carbon nanotubes and having a drawing rate of 10 to 50%.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2019
    Assignee: National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology
    Inventors: Ken Mukai, Kinji Asaka, Takeshi Saito, Motoo Yumura
  • Publication number: 20180297848
    Abstract: An apparatus for producing an aligned carbon nanotube includes: at least one injection section including at least one injection hole from which a raw material gas is injected to a base substrate; an exhaust vent for exhausting the raw material gas; and an exhaust section including a plurality of exhaust vents, the plurality of exhaust vents being provided so as to be closer to the exhaust vent than a plurality of injection holes included in the at least one injection hole of the at least one injection section.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 20, 2018
    Publication date: October 18, 2018
    Applicants: ZEON CORPORATION, NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF ADVANCED INDUSTRIAL SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
    Inventors: Akiyoshi SHIBUYA, Kenji HATA, Motoo YUMURA
  • Patent number: 10046969
    Abstract: An apparatus of the present invention for producing an aligned carbon nanotube includes: at least one injection section including at least one injection hole from which a raw material gas is injected to a base substrate; an exhaust vent for exhausting the raw material gas; and an exhaust section including a plurality of exhaust vents, the plurality of exhaust vents being provided so as to be closer to the exhaust vent than a plurality of injection holes included in the at least one injection hole of the at least one injection section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2018
    Assignees: ZEON CORPORATION, NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF ADVANCED INDUSTRIAL SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
    Inventors: Akiyoshi Shibuya, Kenji Hata, Motoo Yumura
  • Patent number: 9682863
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2017
    Assignees: ZEON CORPORATION, NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF ADVANCED INDUSTRIAL SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
    Inventors: Akiyoshi Shibuya, Kenji Hata, Motoo Yumura
  • Patent number: 9598285
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2017
    Assignees: ZEON CORPORATION, NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF ADVANCED INDUSTRIAL SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
    Inventors: Akiyoshi Shibuya, Keiichi Kawata, Kenji Hata, Motoo Yumura
  • Publication number: 20160207771
    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.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 30, 2016
    Publication date: July 21, 2016
    Applicants: ZEON CORPORATION, NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF ADVANCED INDUSTRIAL SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
    Inventors: Akiyoshi SHIBUYA, Keiichi KAWATA, Kenji HATA, Motoo YUMURA
  • Publication number: 20160083257
    Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a CNT yarn having excellent conductivity and strength, and a method for producing the same. The present invention provides a drawn yarn comprising carbon nanotubes and having a drawing rate of 10 to 50%.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 15, 2014
    Publication date: March 24, 2016
    Inventors: Ken Mukai, Kinji Asaka, Takeshi Saito, Motoo Yumura
  • Publication number: 20160075558
    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.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 23, 2015
    Publication date: March 17, 2016
    Applicants: ZEON CORPORATION, National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology
    Inventors: Akiyoshi SHIBUYA, Kenji HATA, Motoo YUMURA
  • Patent number: 9227171
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2016
    Assignees: ZEON CORPORATION, NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF ADVANCED INDUSTRIAL SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
    Inventors: Akiyoshi Shibuya, Kenji Hata, Motoo Yumura
  • Publication number: 20150232991
    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.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 6, 2015
    Publication date: August 20, 2015
    Applicants: ZEON CORPORATION, National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology
    Inventors: Hirokazu TAKAI, Kenji HATA, Motoo YUMURA
  • Patent number: 9045344
    Abstract: A production method in accordance with the present invention includes the steps of: providing a catalyst support layer by applying, to a substrate, a catalyst support layer coating agent obtained by dissolving in an organic solvent (i) an organometallic compound containing aluminum and/or a metal salt containing aluminum and (ii) a stabilizer for inhibiting a condensation polymerization reaction of the organometallic compound and/or the metal salt; providing a catalyst formation layer by applying, to the catalyst support layer, a catalyst formation layer coating agent obtained by dissolving in an organic solvent (a) an organometallic compound containing iron and/or a metal salt containing iron and (b) a stabilizer for inhibiting a condensation polymerization reaction of the organometallic compound and/or the metal salt; and growing an aligned carbon nanotube aggregate on the substrate by chemical vapor deposition (CVD).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2015
    Assignees: ZEON CORPORATION, NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF ADVANCED INDUSTRIAL SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
    Inventors: Hirokazu Takai, Mitsugu Uejima, The Ban Hoang, Kenji Hata, Motoo Yumura
  • Patent number: 8883260
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2014
    Assignee: National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology
    Inventors: Kenji Hata, Satoshi Yasuda, Don N. Futaba, Motoo Yumura
  • Publication number: 20140170316
    Abstract: An apparatus of the present invention for producing an aligned carbon nanotube includes: at least one injection section including at least one injection hole from which a raw material gas is injected to a base substrate; an exhaust vent for exhausting the raw material gas; and an exhaust section including a plurality of exhaust vents, the plurality of exhaust vents being provided so as to be closer to the exhaust vent than a plurality of injection holes included in the at least one injection hole of the at least one injection section.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 23, 2012
    Publication date: June 19, 2014
    Applicants: NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF ADVANCED INDUSTRIAL SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY, ZEON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Akiyoshi Shibuya, Kenji Hata, Motoo Yumura
  • Publication number: 20140154416
    Abstract: An apparatus for producing an aligned carbon nanotube aggregate includes: a growth unit that includes a growth furnace for synthesizing the aligned carbon nanotube aggregate by causing an environment surrounding a catalyst to be an environment of a raw material gas and by heating at least either the catalyst or the raw material gas; a transfer unit that transfers an aligned CNT aggregate production substrate from an inside to an outside of the growth furnace; and a heating section for heating, from the outside of the growth furnace, an outlet of the growth furnace through which outlet the aligned CNT aggregate production substrate exits from the growth furnace.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 30, 2012
    Publication date: June 5, 2014
    Applicants: NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF ADVANCED INDUSTRIAL SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY, ZEON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Mitsuhito Hirota, Akiyoshi Shibuya, Mitsugu Uejima, Kenji Hata, Motoo Yumura
  • Patent number: 8455050
    Abstract: An apparatus (CVD apparatus (1)) having a reaction chamber (3) for accommodating a substrate (2) formed with a metal catalyst film and means (gas supply pipes (5, 6)) for supplying a feedstock gas (9) and a catalyst activating material (10) into the reaction chamber (3) for manufacturing CNTs aligned in a direction perpendicular to the catalyst film surface (2a) of the substrate (2), wherein the means for supplying the feedstock gas (9) and the catalyst activating material (10) have a plurality of ejection holes placed at positions facing the catalyst film surface (2a) of the substrate (2), and the ejecting direction of the ejection holes is adjusted to the direction of alignment of CNTs grown from the metal catalyst film. This can provide a manufacturing technology for CNTs capable of mass-producing aligned CNTs at lower cost.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2013
    Assignee: National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology
    Inventors: Kenji Hata, Satoshi Yasuda, Motoo Yumura
  • Publication number: 20120321544
    Abstract: A production method in accordance with the present invention includes the steps of: providing a catalyst support layer by applying, to a substrate, a catalyst support layer coating agent obtained by dissolving in an organic solvent (i) an organometallic compound containing aluminum and/or a metal salt containing aluminum and (ii) a stabilizer for inhibiting a condensation polymerization reaction of the organometallic compound and/or the metal salt; providing a catalyst formation layer by applying, to the catalyst support layer, a catalyst formation layer coating agent obtained by dissolving in an organic solvent (a) an organometallic compound containing iron and/or a metal salt containing iron and (b) a stabilizer for inhibiting a condensation polymerization reaction of the organometallic compound and/or the metal salt; and growing an aligned carbon nanotube aggregate on the substrate by chemical vapor deposition (CVD).
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 28, 2011
    Publication date: December 20, 2012
    Inventors: Hirokazu Takai, Mitsugu Uejima, The Ban Hoang, Kenji Hata, Motoo Yumura
  • Patent number: 8329135
    Abstract: An aligned carbon nanotube bulk structure in which various properties such as density and hardness are controlled depending on the place is provided. An aligned carbon nanotube bulk structure having different density portions is an aligned carbon nanotube bulk structure provided with a high-density portion applied with a density-increasing treatment and an low-density portion and having a plurality of carbon nanotubes (CNT) aligned in a predetermined direction, in which the structure has 1:3 or more of the degree of anisotropy in the alignment direction and in the direction vertical to the alignment direction and, in the (002) peak of the X-ray diffraction data in the high density region, the intensity of X-ray incident along the orientation direction is higher than that of the X-ray intensity from the direction vertical to the alignment direction, and the degree of alignment is defined by specific conditions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2012
    Assignee: National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology
    Inventors: Kenji Hata, Don N. Futaba, Motoo Yumura, Sumio Iijima
  • Patent number: 8318308
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2012
    Assignee: National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology
    Inventors: Kenji Hata, Sumio Iijima, Motoo Yumura, Don N. Futaba