Carbon nanotubes: high solids dispersions and nematic gels thereof
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A dispersion, comprising:
- an aqueous medium;
carbon nanotubes; and
at least one surfactant comprising an aromatic group, an alkyl group having from about 4 to about 30 carbon atoms, and a charged head group.
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Abstract
Disclosed are high weight fraction carbon nanotube dispersions including an aqueous medium, carbon nanotubes, and at least one surfactant, the surfactant having an aromatic group, an alkyl group having from about 4 to about 30 carbon atoms, and a charged head group. Also disclosed are ultrasonication processes capable of providing stable dispersions of carbon nanotubes having reduced breakage of the carbon nanotubes. The preparation of nematic nanotube gels from the carbon nanotube dispersions are also disclosed. A variety of uses and applications of the carbon nanotube dispersions and nematic nanotube gels are provided.
132 Citations
139 Claims
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1. A dispersion, comprising:
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an aqueous medium;
carbon nanotubes; and
at least one surfactant comprising an aromatic group, an alkyl group having from about 4 to about 30 carbon atoms, and a charged head group. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 98, 99)
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37. A method of preparing a dispersion of carbon nanotubes, said method comprising:
mixing an aqueous medium, carbon nanotubes, and surfactant in a low-power, high-frequency bath sonicator, said surfactant comprising an alkyl group having from about 4 to about 30 carbon atoms, an aromatic group, and a charged head group. - View Dependent Claims (38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54)
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55. A composition, comprising:
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carbon nanotubes; and
surfactant comprising an alkyl group having from about 4 to about 30 carbon atoms, an aromatic group, and a charged head group. - View Dependent Claims (56, 57)
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58. A composite, comprising:
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a solid matrix; and
carbon nanotubes and surfactant dispersed within said solid matrix, said surfactant comprising an alkyl group having from about 4 to about 30 carbon atoms, an aromatic group, and a head group. - View Dependent Claims (59, 60)
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61. A method of preparing a composite, comprising:
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dispersing carbon nanotubes and surfactant in a hardenable matrix precursor, said surfactant comprising an alkyl group having from about 4 to about 30 carbon atoms, an aromatic group, and a head group; and
hardening the precursor. - View Dependent Claims (62, 63)
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64. An assembly, comprising:
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a substrate; and
carbon nanotubes and surfactant adjacent to said substrate, said surfactant comprising an alkyl group having from about 4 to about 30 carbon atoms, an aromatic group, and a charged head group. - View Dependent Claims (65, 66)
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67. A method of assembling carbon nanotubes, comprising:
contacting a dispersion comprising an aqueous medium, carbon nanotubes and surfactant to a substrate, said surfactant comprising an alkyl group having from about 4 to about 30 carbon atoms, an aromatic group, and a charged head group. - View Dependent Claims (68)
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69. Solid media for use in detecting chemical and biological substances, comprising:
a substrate for receiving chemical compounds, biological materials, or both biological materials and chemical compounds for detection, said substrate comprising carbon nanotubes and surfactant adsorbed thereon, said surfactant comprising an alkyl group having between about 6 and about 30 carbon atoms, an aromatic group, and a charged head group. - View Dependent Claims (70, 71, 72, 73)
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74. A method of preparing a nematic nanotube gel, comprising:
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providing a dispersion comprising carbon nanotubes, solvent, gel precursor, and surfactant, said surfactant comprising an alkyl group having from about 4 to about 30 carbon atoms, an aromatic group, and a charged head group;
gelling at least a portion of said gel precursor to form a gel; and
subjecting the dispersion, the gel, or both the dispersion and the gel to an orienting field, said orienting field giving rise to a nematic orientation of said carbon nanotubes. - View Dependent Claims (75, 76, 77, 78, 79, 80, 81, 82, 83, 84, 85, 86, 87, 88, 89, 90, 91, 92, 93, 94, 95, 96, 97, 100, 101, 102, 103, 104, 105, 106, 107, 108, 109, 110, 111, 112, 113, 114, 115, 116, 117, 118, 119, 120, 121, 122, 123, 124, 125, 126, 127, 128, 129, 130, 131, 132, 133, 134, 135, 136, 137, 138)
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139. A composition, comprising carbon nanotubes, gel precursor, and surfactant, said surfactant comprising an alkyl group having from about 4 to about 30 carbon atoms, an aromatic group, and a charged head group.
Specification