Controlled alignment of catalytically grown nanostructures in a large-scale synthesis process

• US 20090081415A1
• Filed: 07/28/2008
• Published: 03/26/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 02/06/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Anatoli V. Melechko, Douglas H. Lowndes, Michael A. Guillorn, Michael L. Simpson, Vladimir I. Merkulov
• Original Assignee: Anatoli V. Melechko, Douglas H. Lowndes, Michael A. Guillorn, Michael L. Simpson, Vladimir I. Merkulov
• Inventors: Guillorn, Michael A., Melechko, Anatoli V., Merkulov, Vladimir I., Lowndes, Douglas H., Simpson, Michael L.
• Granted Patent: US 7,947,976 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 428/174
• CPC Class Codes: B82Y 30/00 Nanotechnology for materials or surface science, e.g. nanocomposites
• CPC Class Codes: B82Y 40/00 Manufacture or treatment of nanostructures
• CPC Class Codes: C01B 2202/08 Aligned nanotubes
• CPC Class Codes: C01B 32/162 characterised by catalysts
• CPC Class Codes: D01F 9/127 by thermal decomposition of hydrocarbon gases or vapours or other carbon-containing compounds in the form of gas or vapour, e.g. carbon monoxide, alcohols
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/5438 Electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 977/843 Gas phase catalytic growth, i.e. chemical vapor deposition
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 977/891 Vapor phase deposition
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 977/943 Information storage or retrieval using nanostructure
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/24628 Nonplanar uniform thickness material

Abstract

Systems and methods are described for controlled alignment of catalytically grown nanostructures in a large-scale synthesis process. A method includes: generating an electric field proximate an edge of a protruding section of an electrode, the electric field defining a vector; and forming an elongated nanostructure located at a position on a surface of a substrate, the position on the surface of the substrate proximate the edge of the protruding section of the electrode, at least one tangent to the elongated nanostructure i) substantially parallel to the vector defined by the electric field and ii) substantially non-parallel to a normal defined by the surface of the substrate.

Claims

1. A composition, comprising

an elongated nanostructure including a first elongated segment defining a first axis and a second elongated segment coupled to the first elongated segment, the second elongated segment defining a second axis that is substantially nonparallel to the first axis;

and

a substrate coupled to the elongated nanostructure,

wherein said elongated nanostructure includes a carbon nanotube.

2. A composition, comprising

an elongated nanostructure including a first elongated segment defining a first axis and a second elongated segment coupled to the first elongated segment, the second elongated segment defining a second axis that is substantially nonparallel to the first axis;

and

a substrate coupled to the elongated nanostructure,

wherein said elongated nanostructure includes a carbon nanofiber.