Abstract: The invention relates to carbon nanotube structures containing both single walled and multi walled carbon nanotubes, and methods for preparing same. These carbon nanotube structures include but are not limited to macroscopic two and three dimensional structures of carbon nanotubes such as assemblages, mats, plugs, networks, rigid porous structures, extrudates, etc. The carbon nanotube structures of the present invention have a variety of uses, including but not limited to, porous media for filtration, adsorption, chromatography; electrodes and current collectors for supercapacitors, batteries and fuel cells; catalyst supports, (including electrocatalysis), etc.

Abstract: A flame-resistant polymer excels in moldability capable of providing a flame-resistant molded item of novel configuration; a relevant flame-resistant polymer solution; a process for easily producing them; a carbon molding from the flame-resistant polymer; and a process for easily producing the same. A flame-resistant polymer is modified with an amine compound. Further, a flame-resistant polymer solution has the polymer dissolved in a polar organic solvent. A flame-resistant molding whose part or entirety is constituted of the flame-resistant polymer modified with an amine compound. A carbon molding was part or entirety constituted of a carbon component resulting from carbonization of the flame-resistant polymer modified with an amine compound. From the solution containing the flame-resistant polymer, moldings of various configurations can be obtained through further work.

Abstract: The invention incorporates new processes for the chemical modification of carbon nanotubes. Such processes involve the derivatization of multi- and single-wall carbon nanotubes, including small diameter (ca. 0.7 nm) single-wall carbon nanotubes, with diazonium species. The method allows the chemical attachment of a variety of organic compounds to the side and ends of carbon nanotubes. These chemically modified nanotubes have applications in polymer composite materials, molecular electronic applications, and sensor devices. The methods of derivatization include electrochemical induced reactions, thermally induced reactions (via in-situ generation of diazonium compounds or pre-formed diazonium compounds), and photochemically induced reactions. The derivatization causes significant changes in the spectroscopic properties of the nanotubes. The estimated degree of functionality is ca. 1 out of every 20 to 30 carbons in a nanotube bearing a functionality moiety.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method for fabrication of porous carbon fibers. More particularly, the method for fabrication of porous carbon fibers comprises the steps of: processing starch to prepare a gelled starch solution; adding organic acid to the gelled starch solution to prepare a starch solution; dissolving carbon nanotubes in a solvent and adding fiber formable polymer thereto to prepare a carbon nanotube/fiber formable polymer solution; mixing the starch solution with the carbon nanotube/fiber formable polymer solution obtained from the above steps, in order to prepare a carbon nanotube/starch/fiber formable polymer solution; electro-spinning or wet-state spinning the prepared carbon nanotube/starch/fiber formable polymer solution to produce starch composite fibers; oxidation heating the starch composite fibers, then, executing carbonization and vacuum heat treatment of the heated fibers, so as to fabricate the porous carbon fibers.

Abstract: Provided is a continuous method and apparatus of purifying carbon nanotubes. The continuous method and apparatus of purifying carbon nanotubes is characterized in a first purifying step for injecting a carbon nanotube liquid mixture containing an oxidizer into a purifying reactor under a sub-critical water or supercritical water condition at a pressure of 50 to 400 atm and a temperature of 100 to 600° C. to obtain a purified product, thereby removing amorphous carbon and producing the carbon nanotube product.

Abstract: Exemplary methods of producing single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) are disclosed. A plurality of seed cap molecules having a same diameter and a same chirality are prepared. The plurality of seed cap molecules are attached to a plurality of catalyst particles to form a plurality of catalyst-cap composites. Carbon atoms are provided to the catalyst-cap composites. Carbon nanotubes having the same diameter and the same chirality are grown on the plurality of catalyst-cap composited by exposing the composites to the carbon atoms.

Abstract: It is intended to highly efficiently produce a high-density brush-shaped carbon nanostructure useful in the production of CNT assembly, such as rope-shaped CNTs, and provide a catalyst body for production of brush-shaped carbon nanostructure that enables the production. The catalyst body for production of brush-shaped carbon nanostructure is one comprising a substrate (32), an aggregation suppressive layer (34) superimposed on a surface thereof and a catalyst layer superimposed on the aggregation suppressive layer (34). The catalyst layer is a catalyst particle layer (44) consisting of metallic catalyst particles (42) composed mainly of a catalytic metal. The metallic catalyst particles (42) have an average particle diameter, D, satisfying the relationship 0.5 nm?D?80 nm, and individual particles of the metallic catalyst particles (42) have a diameter, d, falling within the range of the above average particle diameter (D).

Abstract: The present teachings provide methods for sorting nanotubes according to their wall number, and optionally further in terms of their diameter, electronic type, and/or chirality. Also provided are highly enriched nanotube populations provided thereby and articles of manufacture including such populations.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a nanostructured material comprising carbon nanotubes fused together to form a three-dimensional structure. Methods of making the nanostructured material are also disclosed. Such methods include a batch type process, as well as multi-step recycling methods or continuous single-step methods. A wide range of articles made from the nanostructured material, including fabrics, ballistic mitigation materials, structural supports, mechanical actuators, heat sink, thermal conductor, and membranes for fluid purification is also disclosed.

Abstract: An ion flux is directed to a carbon nanotube to permanently shape, straighten and/or bend the carbon nanotube into a desired configuration. Such carbon nanotubes have many properties that make them ideal as probes for Scanning Probe Microscopy and many other applications.

Abstract: This invention provides a reactor for carbon nano-fibre production comprising a generally horizontal elongate cylindrical reaction vessel arranged to rotate about its cylindrical axis and containing in use a particulate catalyst-containing reaction bed, said reaction vessel having a gas inlet port and a gas outlet port positioned such that one of said inlet and outlet ports is in said bed and the other is outside said bed.

Abstract: There is provided a process for producing single-walled carbon nanotubes with an increased diameter, characterized in that it comprises a diameter-increasing treatment step of heating carbon nanotubes of a raw material at a degree of vacuum of 1.3×10?2 Pa or below and at a temperature ranging from 1500 to 2000° C., preferably 1700 to 2000° C.

Abstract: An exposure system for exposing a photoresist layer on a top surface of a wafer to light. The exposure system including: an environment chamber containing a light source, one or more focusing lenses, a mask holder, a slit and a wafer stage, the light source, all aligned to an optical axis, the wafer stage moveable in two different orthogonal directions orthogonal to the optical axis, the mask holder and the slit moveable in one of the two orthogonal directions; a filter in a sidewall of the environment chamber, the filter including: a filter housing containing chemically active carbon nanotubes, the chemically active carbon nanotubes comprising a chemically active layer formed on carbon nanotubes or comprising chemically reactive groups on sidewalls of the carbon nanotubes; and means for forcing air or inert gas first through the filter then into the environment chamber and then out of the environment chamber.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing isotope-doped carbon nanotubes (10) includes the steps of: (a) providing a carbon rod (209), the carbon rod including at least two kinds of carbon isotope segments (202, 203) arranged therealong according to need; (b) providing a laser beam source positioned opposite to the carbon rod; and (c) irradiating the carbon rod with a laser beam (214), wherein the carbon isotope segments of the carbon rod are consumed sequentially to form the isotope-doped carbon nanotubes. Growth mechanisms of the isotope-doped carbon nanotubes manufactured by this method can be readily studied.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of manufacturing carbon fibres from raw materials of renewable origin, comprising: a) synthesis of acrolein from glycerol of vegetable origin; b) ammoxidation of the acrolein to obtain acrylonitrile; c) polymerization of the acrylonitrile to a homopolymer or copolymer of acrylonitrile (PAN); d) conversion of the PAN to PAN fibres; e) partial oxidation of the PAN fibres; and f) carbonization of the partially oxidized PAN fibres. It also relates to the fibres capable of being obtained according to this method, and also to the uses thereof.

Abstract: A nano-structure is provided. In some embodiments, the nano-structure includes a carbon nanotube with a carbon nanotube body. The carbon nanotube body has at least one cap at one end of the nanotube body. Also provided are methods of making the nano-structures described herein.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a material for altering electromagnetic radiation incident on the material. The material disclosed herein comprises carbon nanotubes having a length (L) that meets the following formula (1): L?½ ???(1) where ? is the wavelength of the electromagnetic radiation incident on the material. Also disclosed herein are methods of altering electromagnetic radiation, including mitigating, intensifying, or absorbing and re-transmitting electromagnetic radiation using the disclosed material.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for forming at least one carbon nanotube (16) by using metal-free catalyst nanoparticles (14), for example Si or Ge comprising nanoparticles. The method uses the step of decomposing a carbon source gas to form carbon fragments which then recombine at the metal-free catalyst nanoparticles (14) to grow carbon nanotubes (16). The method according to embodiments of the invention leads to carbon nanotubes (16) which do not comprise metal impurities.

Abstract: Techniques for manufacturing an enhanced carbon nanotube (CNT) assembly are provided. In one embodiment, a method of manufacturing an enhanced CNT assembly comprises preparing a metal tip, preparing a CNT plus transition-metal colloidal solution, forming a CNT plus transition-metal composite assembly by using the prepared metal tip and CNT plus transition-metal colloidal solution, and growing the CNT plus transition-metal composite assembly.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for producing granular, particularly spherical activated carbon by carbonization of suitable carbonaceous polymers in the form of polymer granules, in particular polymer spherules, as a starting material, which are convertible by carbonization into carbon at least essentially, wherein the polymer granules, in particular the polymer spherules, are continuously moved through a carbonization apparatus comprising a plurality of temperature zones and/or a temperature gradient so that an at least essentially complete conversion of the starting material to carbon is effected.

Abstract: Disclosed are a nano-composite composition and a method of making such a composite that is composed of a matrix material and dispersed reinforcement nano-scaled graphene plates (NGPs) that are substantially aligned along at least one specified direction or axis. The method comprises: (a) providing a mixture of nano-scaled graphene plates (NGPs) and a matrix material in a fluent state; (b) extruding the mixture to form a filament wherein NGPs are aligned along a filament axis; (c) aligning a plurality of segments of the filament in a first direction, or moving the filament back and forth along a first direction and its opposite direction, to form a NGP-matrix filament preform; and (d) consolidating the preform to form the nanocomposite material. Also disclosed is a method of making a nano-composite fiber.

Abstract: Certain applicator liquids and application techniques are described, which can be used to form nanotube films or fabrics of controlled properties. An applicator liquid for preparation of a nanotube film or fabric includes a controlled concentration of nanotubes dispersed in ethyl lactate. The controlled concentration is sufficient to form a nanotube fabric or film of preselected density and uniformity.

Abstract: The present invention is directed toward methods of selectively functionalizing carbon nanotubes of a specific type or range of types, based on their electronic properties, using diazonium chemistry. The present invention is also directed toward methods of separating carbon nanotubes into populations of specific types or range(s) of types via selective functionalization and electrophoresis, and also to the novel compositions generated by such separations.

Abstract: This invention relates generally to carbon fiber produced from fullerene nanotube arrays. In one embodiment, the present invention involves a macroscopic carbon fiber comprising at least 106 fullerene nanotubes in generally parallel orientation.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for etching carbon fibers, in particular carbon nanofibers and to the carbon nanofibres obtainable by this method, and the use thereof.

Abstract: A method of removing metal impurities from carbon nanotubes includes treating carbon nanotubes with distilled bromine in a substantially oxygen- and water-free atmosphere and then removing the distilled bromine from the carbon nanotubes. Purified carbon nanotubes having an iron content from about 2.5 to about 3.5 by weight that are substantially free of derivatization at the ends and defect sites are made available via this method.

Abstract: To provide a carbon fiber reinforcement having excellent thermal conductivity and mechanical properties which is manufactured by mixing together two different types of pitch-based carbon short fibers having a ratio of the degree of filament diameter distribution to average fiber diameter of 0.05 to 0.2 and a fiber length of 20 to 6,000 ?m which differ from each other in average fiber diameter or by mixing one of them with a pitch-based carbon fiber web to improve dispersibility into a matrix resin or increase the dispersion ratio of the pitch-based carbon short fibers.

Abstract: A method of producing a carbon-based material having an activated surface includes: (a) mixing an elastomer and a carbon material, and dispersing the carbon material by applying a shear force to obtain a composite elastomer; and (b) heat-treating the composite elastomer at a temperature for vaporising an elastomer to vaporize the elastomer in the composite elastomer.

Abstract: According to the present invention, there is disclosed a carbon fiber having a strand tensile strength of 6,100 MPa or more, a strand tensile modulus of 340 GPa or more and a density of 1.76 g/cm3 or more and possessing, on the surface, striations oriented in a direction parallel to the fiber axis, wherein the distance between striations in a 2×2 ?m area of the carbon fiber surface when observed by a scanning probe microscope is 0.1 to 0.3 ?m, the root mean square surface roughness Rms (5 ?m) in a 5×5 ?m area of the carbon fiber surface when observed by a scanning probe microscope is 20 to 40 nm, and the root mean square surface roughness Rms (0.5 ?m) when measured in a 0.5×0.5 ?m area is 2 to 12 nm.

Abstract: The invention provides novel metal oxide particles on which carbon nanotubes are supported. Needle- or flake-like crystalline metal oxide particles characterized in that carbon nanotubes grown parallel to each other in the direction nearly perpendicular to the surface of each particle are supported on the surfaces of the particles and that the carbon nanotubes supported on the particles are 1 to 500 ?m in length in the direction nearly perpendicular to the surface of each particle.

Abstract: A functional device which is composed of a nanometer-sized functional structure, which can reduce connection resistance in connecting the functional structure to an external electrode, and which includes a wiring section capable of minimizing constraints given to structural designs of various functional structures, and a method of manufacturing it are provided. A functional device in which a functional structure having contained sections in positions spaced from each other is retained by a carbon nanotube. A gap is formed in the carbon nanotube, and the carbon nanotube is segmented into a first carbon nanotube and a second carbon nanotube by the gap. One of the contained sections is contained in the first carbon nanotube at an opening of the first carbon nanotube facing the gap, and the other of the contained sections is contained in the second carbon nanotube at an opening of the second carbon nanotube facing the gap.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for etching carbon fibers, in particular carbon nanofibers and to the carbon nanofibers obtainable by this method, and the use thereof.

Abstract: According to the present invention, there is disclosed a carbon fiber having a strand tensile strength of 6,100 MPa or more, a strand tensile modulus of 340 GPa or more and a density of 1.76 g/cm3 or more and possessing, on the surface, striations oriented in a direction parallel to the fiber axis, wherein the distance between striations in a 2×2 ?m area of the carbon fiber surface when observed by a scanning probe microscope is 0.1 to 0.3 ?m, the root mean square surface roughness Rms (5 ?m) in a 5×5 ?m area of the carbon fiber surface when observed by a scanning probe microscope is 20 to 40 nm, and the root mean square surface roughness Rms (0.5 ?m) when measured in a 0.5×0.5 ?m area is 2 to 12 nm.

Abstract: A carbon nanotubes-like material is disclosed. The carbon nanotubes-like material comprises bacterial cellulose carbonized under an oxygen-free atmosphere. Also disclosed is a cathode material containing bacterial cellulose and LiFePO4, an anode material containing carbonized bacterial cellulose, a separator membrane containing aldehyde-treated bacterial cellulose, and a lithium battery containing a component comprising bacterial cellulose.

Abstract: This invention relates generally to forming an array of fullerene nanotubes. In one embodiment, a macroscopic molecular array is provided comprising at least about 106 fullerene nanotubes in generally parallel orientation and having substantially similar lengths in the range of from about 5 to about 500 nanometers.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to methods of forming sidewall-functionalized carbon nanotubes, wherein such functionalized carbon nanotubes have hydroxyl-terminated moieties covalently attached to their sidewalls. Generally, such methods involve chemistry on carbon nanotubes that have first been fluorinated. In some embodiments, fluorinated carbon nanotubes (“fluoronanotubes”) are reacted with mono-metal salts of a dialcohol, MO—R—OH, where M is a metal and R is hydrocarbon or other organic chain and/or ring structural unit. In such embodiments, —O—R—OH displaces —F on the nanotube, the fluorine leaving as MF. Generally, such mono-metal salts are formed in situ by the addition of MOH to one or more dialcohols in which the fluoronanotubes have been dispersed. In some embodiments, fluoronanotubes are reacted with amino alcohols, such as being of the type H2N—R—OH, wherein —N(H)—R—OH displaces —F on the nanotube, the fluorine leaving as HF.

Abstract: Provided is a production process for a carbonized product characterized by comprising the following steps (a) to (b): (a) a step in which metal-made or ceramic-made plural granular matters are charged into a heat treating apparatus which is maintained at a temperature of 400° C. or higher and 700° C. or lower and allowed to move therein and in which a carbonized product precursor is fed into the above apparatus and subjected to heat treatment, whereby the carbonized product is adhered on the surface of the above granular matters and (b) a step in which the carbonized product adhered on the surface of the granular matters is heated at a higher temperature than the heat treating temperature in the step (a) and 900° C. or lower, whereby the carbonized product is separated from the granular matters. The present invention provides a production process for an inexpensive and useful carbonized product by simple apparatus and steps.

Abstract: Production of nanotubes of carbon or of other inorganic material by moving a carbon-containing substrate, such as a tape or belt of carbon fibres, within a reaction chamber either though an electric arc in a gap between two electrodes or adjacent an electrode so that an electric arc exists between the electrode and the substrate, to cause the nanotubes to form on the substrate. The method enables the continuous or semi-continuous production of nanotubes. Preferably, the process is carried out at atmospheric pressure and nanotubes of high purity are produced.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for synthesis of carbon nanotubes of the highest carbon purity by the process of vapour phase chemical deposition. The nanotubes produced can be used to advantage in all know applications of carbon nanotubes.

Abstract: An efficient and cost-effective method for treating carbon nanotubes (CNTs) is provided. The method includes comprising: dispersing said carbon nanotubes in a dispersing medium to prepare a dispersion system; mixing said dispersion system with adsorbent so that type-specific carbon nanotubes contained in said dispersion system are absorbed onto the adsorbent, wherein the adsorbent is modified by a chemical/biological modifier so as to have different adsorption selectivity to carbon nanotubes of different types; and separating the adsorbent from the dispersion system, whereby the type-specific carbon nanotubes adsorbed onto the adsorbent is separated from the carbon nanotubes of another type enriched in the dispersion system; carbon nanotubes produced by the treatment method, and CNTs devices comprising thereof.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for producing a carbon nanotube having a high purity and a method for purifying an unpurified carbon nanotube or a carbon nanotube having a low purity. The method for producing a carbon nanotube comprises a step of providing a carbonaceous material containing a carbon nanotube and a step of adding an iron material and hydrogen peroxide to the carbonaceous material to thereby purity a carbon nanotube. It is preferred that an iron powder is used as the iron material. The iron powder is preferably used in a proportion of 0.5 to 20 parts by mass relative to 100 parts by mass of the whole carbonaceous material.

Abstract: A fiber composite material, including: an elastomer; carbon nanofibers having an average diameter of 0.7 to 15 nm and an average length of 0.5 to 100 micrometers; and fibers having an average diameter of 1 to 100 micrometers and an aspect ratio of 50 to 500, the carbon nanofibers and the fibers being dispersed in the elastomer, and the elastomer including an unsaturated bond or a group exhibiting affinity to the carbon nanofibers.

Abstract: The diameter of carbon nanotubes grown by chemical vapor deposition is controlled independent of the catalyst size by controlling the residence time of reactive gases in the reactor.

Abstract: Long, macroscopic nanotube strands or cables, up to several tens of centimeters in length, of aligned single-walled nanotubes are synthesized by the catalytic pyrolysis of n-hexane using an enhanced vertical floating catalyst CVD technique. The long strands of nanotubes assemble continuously from ropes or arrays of nanotubes, which are intrinsically long. These directly synthesized long nanotube strands or cables can be easily manipulated using macroscopic tools.

Abstract: A producing method of a carbon fiber by spraying a raw material solution containing a carbon source and a transition metallic compound into a reaction zone and subjecting the raw material solution to thermal decomposition, which is characterized in (1) spraying the raw material solution at a spray angle of 3° to 30° and (2) feeding a carrier gas through at least one site other than an inlet through which the raw material solution is sprayed. A composite material comprising a vapor grown carbon fiber, each fiber filament of the carbon fiber having a branching degree of at least 0.15 occurrences/?m and a bulk density of 0.025 g/cm3 or less.

Abstract: An aligned carbon nanotube bulk aggregate of the invention is characterized by consisting of plural carbon nanotubes aligned in a predetermined direction and having a density of 0.2 to 1.5 g/cm3. The carbon nanotube bulk aggregate can be produced by a process of growing carbon nanotubes by chemical vapor deposition (CVD) in the presence of a metal catalyst which comprises growing carbon nanotubes in aligned state in a reaction atmosphere, soaking the obtained carbon nanotubes with a liquid, and then drying the resulting nanotubes. Thus, an aligned carbon nanotube bulk aggregate having a density of 0.2 to 1.5 g/cm3 can be obtained. The invention provides a high density and a high hardness which were not attained in the prior art, and a process for the production of the same.

Abstract: Methods and processes for preparing interconnected carbon single-walled nanotubes (SWNTs) are disclosed. The SWNTs soot, synthesized by any one of the art methods, is heated to less than about 1250° C. in flowing dry air using the electrical field (E) component of microwave energy. The tubes of the SWNTs thus treated become welded and interconnected.

Abstract: A method of selectively removing carbonaceous impurities from carbon nanotubes (CNTs). In an example method, impurities formed on the surface of the CNTs may be removed by a sulfidation reaction between the impurities and sulfur in a sealed space. More specifically, a method of selectively removing only amorphous carbon by which carbon nanotube walls do not react with sulfur and only carbonaceous impurities formed on the surface of the CNTs make sulfidation reaction (C+2S?CS2), that is, a method of selectively removing carbonaceous impurities from the CNTs integrated in a device by sulfidation is provided.

Abstract: Carbon nanotube, method for positioning the same, field effect transistor made using the carbon nanotube, method for making the field-effect transistor, and a semiconductor device are provided. The carbon nanotube includes a bare carbon nanotube and a functional group introduced to at least one end of the bare carbon nanotube.

Abstract: A process of forming a semiconductive carbon nanotube structure includes imposing energy on a mixture that contains metallic carbon nanotubes and semiconductive carbon nanotubes under conditions to cause the metallic carbon nanotubes to be digested or to decompose so that they may be separated away from the semiconductive carbon nanotubes.