CHEMICAL DERIVATIZATION OF SILICA COATED FULLERENES AND USE OF DERIVATIZED SILICA COATED FULLERENES

• US 20090118392A1
• Filed: 01/07/2009
• Published: 05/07/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 06/12/2006
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: NewCyte, Inc. (Natcore Technology, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: NewCyte, Inc. (Natcore Technology, Inc.)
• Inventors: Barron, Andrew R., Flood, Dennis J., Guzelian, Andrew A.
• Application Number:
  US12/349,900
• Publication Number:
  US 20090118392A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 523/215
• CPC Class Codes: C07B 2200/11 Compounds covalently bound to a solid support
• CPC Class Codes: C07F 7/1804 Compounds having Si-O-C linkages Si-O-acyl linkages C07F7/1896
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 423/39 Fullerene, e.g. c60, c70 derivative and related process
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 423/40 Fullerene composition
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 977/734 Fullerenes, i.e. graphene-based structures, such as nanohorns, nanococoons, nanoscrolls or fullerene-like structures, e.g. WS2 or MoS2 chalcogenide nanotubes, planar C3N4, etc.
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 977/735 Carbon buckyball
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 977/742 Carbon nanotubes, CNTs
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/2993 Silicic or refractory material containing [e.g., tungsten oxide, glass, cement, etc.]

Abstract

This invention is directed to a new composition of matter in the form of chemically derivatized silica coated fullerenes, including silica coated C₆₀ molecules and silica coated carbon nanotubes, processes for making the same and to uses for the derivatized silica coated fullerenes. Included among many uses in chemical, physical or biological fields of use, but not limited thereto, are high speed, low loss electrical interconnects for nanoscale electronic devices, components and circuits. In one embodiment, this invention also provides a method for preparing silica coated fullerenes having substituents attached to the surface of silica coated fullerenes by reacting silica coated fullerenes with a wide range of organic or inorganic chemical species in a gaseous or liquid state. Preferred substituents include but are not limited to organic groups and organic groups containing heteroatoms such as oxygen, nitrogen, sulfur, and halogens. The identity of the surface functional group is chosen to provide desirable properties to the silica coated fullerenes including but not limited to solubility, miscibility, stickiness, and melting point. The present invention also describes the application of surface functionalized silica coated fullerenes as components of polymer blends and composites.

Claims

1-11. -11. (canceled)

12. A silica coated fullerene, including a silica coated C₆₀ molecule and silica coated carbon nanotube, having a wide range of organic or inorganic chemical species covalently bonded to the silicon or oxygen atoms of the surface of the silica coated fullerene, including the silica coated C₆₀ molecule or the sidewall or endcaps of the silica coated carbon nanotube.

13. The silica coated fullerene, including silica coated C₆₀ molecules and silica coated carbon nanotubes, of claim 12, wherein the organic or inorganic chemical species are covalently bonded to silicon or oxygen atoms of the silica coated fullerene, including the silicon or oxygen atoms of the surface of the silica coated C₆₀ molecule and surface of the sidewall or endcaps of silica coated carbon nanotubes.

14. A product made by the process of reacting silica coated fullerenes, including silica coated C₆₀ molecules and silica coated carbon nanotubes, with a derivatizing agent to covalently bond a wide range of organic or inorganic chemical species to the surface of the silica coated fullerenes, including silica coated C₆₀ molecules and silica coated carbon nanotubes.

15. The product of claim 14, wherein the derivatizing agent is selected from the group consisting of a wide range of organic or inorganic chemical species.

16. A product made by the process of claim 14 comprising the steps of:

(i) selecting a derivatizing agent from the group consisting of a wide range of organic or inorganic chemical species.

17. A product made by the process comprising:

(i) reacting silica coated fullerenes, including silica coated C₆₀ molecules and silica coated carbon nanotubes, with a derivatizing agent wherein the derivatizing agent is selected from the group consisting of a wide range of organic or inorganic chemical species, and (ii) producing silica coated fullerenes having a wide range of organic or inorganic chemical species covalently or physically bonded to the surface of silica coated C₆₀ molecules and sidewall or endcaps of silica coated carbon nanotubes, wherein the silica coated carbon nanotubes generally have a length from about 5 nm to greater than 1000 nm.

18. A method for dispersing chemically functionalized silica coated fullerenes, including silica coated C₆₀ molecules and silica coated carbon nanotubes, comprising mixing or blending the silica coated fullerenes, including the silica coated C₆₀ molecules or the silica coated carbon nanotubes, with a suitable solvent or matrix material.

19. A product made by the process of claim 18.

20. A method of claim 18, wherein the matrix is a polymer.

21. A method of claim 18, wherein the functional group is chosen to allow for miscibility with the chosen polymer.

22. A product made by the process of claim 21 wherein the chemically functionalized silica coated fullerenes, including chemically functionalized silica coated C₆₀ molecules and silica coated carbon nanotubes, provide an alteration of the polymer properties.