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Laser fabrication of continuous nanofibers

  • US 20050255033A1
  • Filed: 05/13/2004
  • Published: 11/17/2005
  • Est. Priority Date: 05/13/2004
  • Status: Abandoned Application
First Claim
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1. A process of making continuous nanofibers comprising the steps of:

  • providing seed-nanostructures in a reactor capable of maintaining a positive internal pressure;

    applying a static electric charge to an assembly of said seed-nanostructures in said reactor by means of a static electric charge generator sufficiently so that said seed-nanostructures become aligned relative to each other;

    removing oxygen and water and injecting inert gas in said reactor with said seed-nanostructures;

    heating each lower tip of at least one filament by focusing at least one laser light beam on said tip by means of at least one laser until said tip becomes molten hot;

    moving said tip of said filament out of a path of said beam toward said seed-nanostructures such that said seed-nanostructures become attached to said tip of said filament;

    providing feed-material comprised of all atomic elements from which new nanofibers are built;

    making a vapor from said feed-material by heating said feed-material;

    heating said vapor to a temperature sufficient to cause new nanofiber growth and gathering atoms of said vapor together in a local region of said laser light beam by focusing said beam from said laser;

    raising said tip of said filament to a position just above said beam such that said new nanofibers form from said vapor in a continuous structure with said seed-nanostructures;

    pulling out said filament with attached said new nanofibers at a rate controlled to match a rate of new nanofiber growth;

    providing tension on said new nanofibers as they grow by at least one tensioning means; and

    constraining said new nanofibers to grow substantially parallel to each other by said tensioning means.

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