IMMOBILIZED CARBON NANOTUBES ON VARIOUS SURFACES

• US 20130095314A1
• Filed: 01/11/2011
• Published: 04/18/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 01/11/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Rice University
• Original Assignee: Rice University
• Inventors: Pasquali, Matteo, Marti-Arbona, Angel A., Saha, Avishek
• Granted Patent: US 9,095,876 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 428/315.5
• CPC Class Codes: B05D 1/18 performed by dipping
• CPC Class Codes: B05D 3/107 Post-treatment of applied coatings
• CPC Class Codes: B05D 5/00 Processes for applying liquids or other fluent materials to surfaces to obtain special surface effects, finishes or structures
• CPC Class Codes: B05D 7/24 for applying particular liquids or other fluent materials
• 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 2202/06 Multi-walled nanotubes
• CPC Class Codes: C01B 2202/30 Purity
• CPC Class Codes: C01B 2202/34 Length
• CPC Class Codes: C01B 2202/36 Diameter
• CPC Class Codes: C01B 32/00 Carbon; Compounds thereof C01B21/00, C01B23/00 take precedence; percarbonates C01B15/10; carbon black C09C1/48
• CPC Class Codes: C01B 32/166 in liquid phase
• CPC Class Codes: C01B 32/174 Derivatisation; Solubilisation; Dispersion in solvents
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 977/742 Carbon nanotubes, CNTs
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 977/743 having specified tube end structure, e.g. close-ended shell or open-ended tube
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 977/744 having atoms interior to the carbon cage
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 977/745 having a modified surface
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 977/746 Modified with biological, organic, or hydrocarbon material
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 977/748 : Modified with atoms or molecules bonded to the surface
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 977/749 : Modified with dissimilar atoms or molecules substituted for carbon atoms of the cnt, e.g. impurity doping or compositional substitution
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 977/75 : Single-walled
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 977/752 : Multi-walled
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 977/842 : for carbon nanotubes or fullerenes
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 977/953 : Detector using nanostructure
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/249978 : Voids specified as micro
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/25 : Web or sheet containing structurally defined element or component and including a second component containing structurally defined particles

Abstract

In some embodiments, the present invention provides methods of immobilizing carbon nanotubes on a surface, wherein the method comprises: (1) mixing carbon nanotubes with a superacid to form a carbon nanotube solution; and (2) exposing the carbon nanotube solution to the surface. The exposing results in the immobilization of the carbon nanotubes on the surface. In some embodiments, the method occurs without the utilization of carbon nanotube wrapping molecules. Other embodiments of the present invention pertain to systems that comprise immobilized carbon nanotubes on a surface, as developed by the aforementioned methods.

Claims

1. A method of immobilizing carbon nanotubes on a surface, wherein the method comprises:

a. mixing carbon nanotubes with a superacid to form a carbon nanotube solution; and

b. exposing the carbon nanotube solution to the surface, wherein the exposing results in the immobilization of the carbon nanotubes on the surface, and wherein the method occurs without the utilization of carbon nanotube wrapping molecules.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the carbon nanotubes comprise pristine carbon nanotubes.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the carbon nanotubes are selected from the group consisting of single-walled carbon nanotubes, double-walled carbon nanotubes, multi-walled carbon nanotubes, small diameter carbon nanotubes, ultra-short carbon nanotubes, and combinations thereof.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the superacid is selected from the group consisting of oleum, chlorosulfonic acid, trifluoromethanesulfonic acid, triflic acid, fluorosulfonic acid, perchloric acid, anhydrous hydrogen fluoride, Bronsted acid/Lewis acid complexes, and combinations thereof.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the superacid is chlorosulfonic acid.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the carbon nanotube solution comprises protonated carbon nanotubes.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the exposing of the carbon nanotube solution to the surface comprises stirring or soaking the surface and the carbon nanotube solution.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the immobilizing comprises adsorption of the carbon nanotubes to the surface.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the immobilized carbon nanotubes comprise deprotonated carbon nanotubes.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the immobilized carbon nanotubes comprise individualized carbon nanotubes.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the surface comprises one or more materials selected from the group consisting of aluminosilicates, silicates, silicon oxides, zeolites, glass, and quartz.

12. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

washing the immobilized carbon nanotubes with a superacid; and

removing the superacid after the washing.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein the carbon nanotube wrapping molecules arc selected from the group consisting of surfactants, oligonucleotides, peptides, organic molecules, metal complexes, polymers, and soluble silicon oxide materials.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein the method occurs without the use of sonication.

15. A system comprising:

a. a surface; and

b. a plurality of carbon nanotubes immobilized on the surface, wherein the carbon nanotubes are not associated with carbon nanotube wrapping molecules.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein the surface comprises a mesoporous or nanoporous material.

17. The system of claim 15, wherein the surface comprises one or more materials selected from the group consisting of aluminosilicates, silicates, silicon oxides, zeolites, glass, and quartz.

18. The system of claim 15, wherein the immobilized carbon nanotubes comprise individualized carbon nanotubes.

19. The system of claim 15, wherein the carbon nanotubes are selected from the group consisting of single-walled carbon nanotubes, double-walled carbon nanotubes, multi-walled carbon nanotubes, small diameter carbon nanotubes, ultra-short carbon nanotubes, and combinations thereof.

20. The system of claim 15, wherein the carbon nanotubes comprise single-walled carbon nanotubes.

21. The system of claim 15, wherein the carbon nanotubes comprise pristine carbon nanotubes.

22. The system of claim 15, wherein the carbon nanotubes comprise deprotonated carbon nanotubes.

23. The system of claim 15, wherein the carbon nanotube wrapping molecules are selected from the group consisting of surfactants, oligonucleotides, peptides, organic molecules, metal complexes, polymers and soluble silicon oxide materials.

24. The system of claim 15, wherein the system is a sensor.