REACTANT LIQUID SYSTEM FOR FACILITATING THE PRODUCTION OF CARBON NANOSTRUCTURES

• US 20110033366A1
• Filed: 10/18/2010
• Published: 02/10/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 07/09/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Anthony S. Wagner
• Original Assignee: Anthony S. Wagner
• Inventors: Wagner, Anthony S.
• Granted Patent: US 9,133,033 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 423/447.2
• 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 2202/04 Nanotubes with a specific amount of walls
• CPC Class Codes: C01B 32/166 in liquid phase
• CPC Class Codes: C01B 32/18 Nanoonions; Nanoscrolls; Nanohorns; Nanocones; Nanowalls
• CPC Class Codes: C01B 32/90 Carbides
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 977/842 for carbon nanotubes or fullerenes
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 977/844 Growth by vaporization or dissociation of carbon source using a high-energy heat source, e.g. electric arc, laser, plasma, e-beam

Abstract

A method includes isolating carbon atoms as carbide anions below a surface of a reactant liquid. The carbide anions are then enabled to escape from the reactant liquid to a collection area where carbon nanostructures may form. A carbon structure produced in this fashion includes at least one layer made up of hexagonally arranged carbon atoms. Each carbon atom has three covalent bonds to adjoining carbon atoms and one unbound pi electron.

Claims

1. A method including:

(a) introducing a carbon-bearing material into a reactant liquid;

(b) breaking the chemical bonds between carbon atoms in the carbon-bearing feed material and non-carbon atoms so as to isolate carbon atoms from the carbon-bearing material as carbide ions located below a surface of the reactant liquid;

(c) enabling the carbide ions to escape the reactant liquid into a collection area to form carbon nanostructures in the collection area; and

(d) removing the carbon nanostructures from the collection area.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the reactant liquid is made up of one or more liquid metals.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein the reactant liquid includes predominantly aluminum.

4. The method of claim 3 wherein the reactant liquid is held at a temperature of between approximately 650 to approximately 950 degrees Celsius.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the reactant liquid isolates carbon atoms from the carbon-bearing material by chemical reduction, chemical oxidation, or pyrolysis, or by reactions from acids, bases, or salts.

6. The method of claim 1 selecting the carbon-bearing material so as to produce a desired fraction of diatomic carbon entering the collection area from the reactant liquid.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein the carbon nanostructures are substantially free of chemically bonded hydrogen.

8. A method for recycling carbon nanostructures, the method including:

(a) introducing a carbon nanostructure into a reactant liquid;

(b) breaking the chemical bonds between at least some of the carbon atoms in the carbon nanostructure so as to isolate carbon atoms from the carbon nanostructure as carbide ions located below a surface of the reactant liquid;

(c) enabling the carbide ions to escape the reactant liquid into a collection area to form a carbon-bearing material in the collection area; and

(d) removing the carbon-bearing material from the collection area.

9. The method of claim 8 wherein the reactant liquid is made up of one or more liquid metals.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein the reactant liquid includes predominantly aluminum.

11. The method of claim 10 wherein the reactant liquid is held at a temperature of between approximately 650 to approximately 950 degrees Celsius.

12. The method of claim 8 wherein the reactant liquid isolates carbon atoms from a carbon nanostructure by chemical reduction, chemical oxidation, or pyrolysis, or by reactions from acids, bases, or salts.

13. The method of claim 8 wherein the carbon-bearing material is a secondary carbon nanostructure.

14. The method of claim 8 wherein the secondary carbon nanostructure is substantially free of chemically bonded hydrogen.

15. The method of claim 8 wherein the secondary carbon nanostructure comprises a type of carbon nanostructure different from the carbon nanostructure introduced into the reactant liquid.

16. A carbon structure including at least one layer made up of hexagonally arranged carbon atoms, each carbon atom having three covalent bonds to adjoining carbon atoms and one unbound pi electron.

17. The carbon structure of claim 16 wherein the layer of hexagonally arranged carbon atoms is wrapped around a central axis to form a tubular shape.

18. The carbon structure of claim 16 further including at least one additional layer of hexagonally arranged carbon atoms, each carbon atom having one unbound pi electron and three covalent bonds to adjoining carbon atoms in the respective additional layer.