CARBON NANOSTRUCTURES FROM ORGANIC POLYMERS
First Claim
1. A method of forming a carbon nanostructure from a pre-formed polymer comprising the steps of:
- mixing said pre-formed polymer with a liquid to form a polymer mixture;
freezing said polymer mixture at an effective freezing rate greater than or equal to 103 Kelvin per second to form a polymer cast within said frozen liquid;
separating said polymer cast from said frozen liquid by sublimating said frozen liquid; and
carbonizing said polymer cast to form a carbon nanostructure.
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Abstract
Methods and apparatuses for forming carbon nanostructures from a polymer mixture. The methods include the steps of mixing the pre-formed polymer with a liquid to form a polymer mixture, freezing the polymer mixture at an effective freezing rate greater than or equal to 103 Kelvin per second to form a polymer cast within the frozen liquid, separating the polymer cast from the frozen liquid by sublimating the frozen liquid, and carbonizing the polymer cast to form a carbon nanostructure. Variations of these methods are included in the scope of the invention and produce materials with varying properties. Through control of the freezing process, the nanomorphology of the resultant structure may be modulated. Nanostructures formed according to these methods are also claimed.
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Citations
30 Claims
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1. A method of forming a carbon nanostructure from a pre-formed polymer comprising the steps of:
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mixing said pre-formed polymer with a liquid to form a polymer mixture; freezing said polymer mixture at an effective freezing rate greater than or equal to 103 Kelvin per second to form a polymer cast within said frozen liquid; separating said polymer cast from said frozen liquid by sublimating said frozen liquid; and carbonizing said polymer cast to form a carbon nanostructure. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A method of forming a carbon nanostructure comprising the steps of:
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mixing a monomer, oligomer, or combination thereof with a liquid; polymerizing said monomer, oligomer, or mixture thereof in said liquid to form a polymer mixture; freezing said polymer mixture at an effective freezing rate greater than or equal to 103 Kelvin per second to form a polymer cast within said frozen aqueous solution; separating said porous polymer cast from said frozen aqueous solution by sublimating said frozen aqueous solution; and carbonizing said porous polymer cast to form a carbon nanostructure. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
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24. A carbon nanostructure comprising:
a plurality of carbon nanofibers, wherein about 90% or more of the carbon nanofibers are oriented in the same longitudinal direction and each individual nanofiber has a diameter of less than about 300 nanometers and a length of at least 5 microns.
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25. An apparatus for forming carbon nanostructures comprising:
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a means for freezing a liquid material at an effective freezing rate greater than or equal to 103 Kelvin per second; a means for depositing said liquid material on said means for freezing forming a frozen liquid material; and a means for receiving said frozen liquid material, wherein said liquid material is a polymer mixture. - View Dependent Claims (26)
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27. A method of forming substantially non-aggregated nanofibers comprising the steps of:
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suspending an organic polymer, or fibers containing organic polymers, in a liquid suspension to form a polymer mixture; freezing said polymer mixture at an effective freezing rate greater than or equal to 103 Kelvin per second to form a polymer cast within said frozen aqueous solution; and separating said porous polymer cast from said frozen aqueous solution by sublimating said frozen aqueous solution to form substantially non-aggregated nanofibers. - View Dependent Claims (28, 29, 30)
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Specification