AQUEOUS CARBON NANOTUBE APPLICATOR LIQUIDS AND METHODS FOR PRODUCING APPLICATOR LIQUIDS THEREOF

• US 20100051880A1
• Filed: 11/04/2009
• Published: 03/04/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 12/16/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: ZEON Corporation
• Original Assignee: Nantero Incorporated
• Inventors: Han, Tzong-Ru T., Ghenciu, Eliodor G., Ward, Jonathan W., Segal, Brent M., SIVARAJAN, Ramesh, Rueckes, Thomas, Sen, Rahul
• Granted Patent: US 8,771,628 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 252/502
• CPC Class Codes: B82Y 10/00 Nanotechnology for information processing, storage or transmission, e.g. quantum computing or single electron logic
• 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 2202/02 Single-walled nanotubes
• CPC Class Codes: C01B 2202/28 Solid content in solvents
• CPC Class Codes: C01B 32/168 After-treatment
• CPC Class Codes: C01B 32/17 Purification
• CPC Class Codes: D06M 10/02 ultrasonic or sonic; Corona discharge
• CPC Class Codes: D06M 11/50 with hydrogen peroxide or peroxides of metals; with persulfuric, permanganic, pernitric, percarbonic acids or their salts
• CPC Class Codes: D06M 11/55 with sulfur trioxide; with sulfuric acid or thiosulfuric acid or their salts
• CPC Class Codes: D06M 11/64 with nitrogen oxides; with oxyacids of nitrogen or their salts with pernitric acids or their salts D06M11/50
• CPC Class Codes: D06M 2101/40 Fibres of carbon
• CPC Class Codes: H10K 71/12 using liquid deposition, e.g. spin coating
• CPC Class Codes: H10K 85/221 Carbon nanotubes
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 977/746 Modified with biological, organic, or hydrocarbon material
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 977/845 Purification or separation of fullerenes or nanotubes

Abstract

Certain applicator liquids and method of making the applicator liquids are described. The applicator liquids 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 a liquid medium containing water. The controlled concentration is sufficient to form a nanotube fabric or film of preselected density and uniformity.

Claims

1. A method for making an applicator liquid, the method comprising:

purifying a plurality of nanotubes to obtain purified nanotubes;

contacting said purified nanotubes with water without adding polymers or surfactants to obtain said applicator liquid;

wherein

said applicator liquid contains said purified nanotubes distributed in said water without substantial precipitation for at least one hour after said contacting.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said purifying comprises contacting said plurality of nanotubes with an acid to reduce metal impurities.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein said acid is a nitric acid, a hydrochloric acid, or a mixture thereof.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein said contacting said plurality of nanotubes with an acid reduces metal impurities to less than about 1×

10¹⁸ atoms/cm².

5. The method of claim 1, wherein said purifying comprises contacting said plurality of nanotubes with a base.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein said base is an ammonia hydroxide, tetramethylammonium hydroxide, alkyl ammonium bases, or combinations thereof.

7. The method of claim 5, wherein said contacting said plurality of nanotubes with a base reduces amorphous carbon impurities.

8. The method of claim 5, wherein said applicator liquid is substantially free of amorphous carbon impurities.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein said purifying comprises removing impurities using centrifugation.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein said centrifugation reduces metal impurities, amorphous carbon impurities, particulate impurities, or combinations thereof.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein said centrifugation comprises ultracentrifugation, gravity filtration, cross flow filtration, vacuum filtration, continuous flow centrifugation, or combinations thereof.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein said purifying comprises oxidizing non-fullerenic carbonaceous materials.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein said oxidizing comprises contacting said plurality of nanotubes with hydrogen peroxide.

14. The method of claim 12, wherein said plurality of nanotubes are heated in an oxygen-containing environment.

15. The method of claim 1, further comprising repeating said purifying a plurality of nanotubes.

16. The method of claim 1, wherein said contacting said purified nanotubes with water comprising grinding said purified nanotubes in water.

17. The method of claim 1, wherein said contacting said purified nanotubes with water comprising agitating said purified nanotubes in water.

18. The method of claim 1, wherein said applicator liquid contains said purified nanotubes distributed in said water at a concentration greater than or equal to 1 mg/L.

19. The method of claim 1, wherein said applicator liquid is substantially free of particulates having a diameter greater than about 500 nm.

20. The method of claim 1, wherein said purified nanotubes have a metal impurities content of less than about 1×

10¹⁸ atoms/cm².