Polymeric Composites Having Oriented Nanomaterials and Methods of Making the Same
First Claim
1. A method of aligning a nanomaterial in a polymeric film, comprising the steps of:
- adding at least one nanomaterial into a mesophase comprising at least one surfactant and at least one monomer;
applying a magnetic field to the mesophase, wherein the at least one surfactant and at least one nanomaterial at least partially align in response to the magnetic field; and
polymerizing the mesophase to form a film containing the at least partially aligned surfactant and nanomaterial.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The present invention relates to the development and fabrication of thin-film polymer nanocomposites containing vertically aligned nanomaterials, such as single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWNTs). In certain embodiments, the present invention utilizes liquid crystal mesophases of hexagonally packed cylindrical micelles that orient with their long axes parallel to an applied magnetic field, thereby directing the alignment of the nanomaterials, such as SWNTs, sequestered in the micellar cores. In certain embodiments, the mesophase may be a stable, single-phase material containing monomers that can be polymerized after nanotube alignment to form the nanocomposite polymer.
11 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method of aligning a nanomaterial in a polymeric film, comprising the steps of:
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adding at least one nanomaterial into a mesophase comprising at least one surfactant and at least one monomer; applying a magnetic field to the mesophase, wherein the at least one surfactant and at least one nanomaterial at least partially align in response to the magnetic field; and polymerizing the mesophase to form a film containing the at least partially aligned surfactant and nanomaterial. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A nanocomposite, comprising:
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at least one nanomaterial; at least one surfactant; at least one monomer; at least one crosslinker; and at least one photoinitiator; wherein the at least one nanomaterial and surfactant are at least partially aligned via exposure to a magnetic field; and wherein the at least one monomer is polymerized via exposure to UV light after the at least one nanomaterial and surfactant are at least partially aligned. - View Dependent Claims (18)
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19. A method of fabricating a nanocomposite, comprising the steps of:
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adding at least one nanomaterial into a mesophase comprising dodecyltrimethylammonium bromide (DTAB), hydroxyethylmethacrylate (HEMA), poly(ethylene glycol)-400 dimethacrylate and Darocur TPO, raising the temperature of the mesophase such that the mesophase is in a disordered state; applying a magnetic field having a strength of less than 6 Tesla to the mesophase, wherein the DTAB at least partially aligns in response to the magnetic field; controlling the rate of cooling of the mesophase as it returns to an ordered state; and polymerizing the mesophase to form a polymeric film containing the at least one nanomaterial. - View Dependent Claims (20)
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Specification