GRAPHENE NANORIBBONS, GRAPHENE NANOPLATELETS AND MIXTURES THEREOF AND METHODS OF SYNTHESIS

• US 20190062165A1
• Filed: 08/22/2018
• Published: 02/28/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 08/22/2017
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: NTherma Corporation
• Original Assignee: NTherma Corporation
• Inventors: Nguyen, Cattien V.
• Granted Patent: US 10,640,384 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: C01B 2204/06 Graphene nanoribbons
• CPC Class Codes: C01B 2204/30 Purity
• CPC Class Codes: C01B 32/162 characterised by catalysts
• CPC Class Codes: C01B 32/168 After-treatment
• CPC Class Codes: C01B 32/178 Opening; Filling
• CPC Class Codes: C01B 32/184 Preparation
• CPC Class Codes: C01P 2006/80 Compositional purity

Abstract

Provided herein are graphene nanoribbons with high structural uniformity and low levels of impurities and methods of synthesis thereof. Also provided herein are graphene nanoplatelets of superior structural uniformity and low levels of impurities and methods of synthesis thereof. Further provided herein are mixtures of graphene nanoribbons and graphene nanoplatelets of good structural uniformity and low levels of impurities and methods of synthesis thereof. The method includes, for example, the steps of depositing catalyst on a constantly moving substrate, forming carbon nanotubes on the substrate, separating carbon nanotubes from the substrate, collecting the carbon nanotubes from the surface where the substrate moves continuously and sequentially through the depositing, forming, separating and collecting steps. Further processing steps convert the synthesized carbon nanotubes to graphene nanoribbons, graphene nanoplatelets and mixtures thereof.

Claims

1. A method for synthesizing graphene nanoribbons comprising:

continuously depositing catalyst on a constantly moving substrate;

forming carbon nanotubes on the substrate;

separating carbon nanotubes from the substrate;

collecting carbon nanotubes; and

converting the carbon nanotubes to graphene nanoribbons;

wherein the substrate moves sequentially through the depositing, forming, separating and collecting steps.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the graphene nanoribbons are of uniform length

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the uniform length is about 50 μ

M, about 100 μ

M, about 150 μ

M or about 200 μ

M.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the graphene nanoribbons are of greater than 90%, 95%, 99%, 99.5% or 99.9% purity.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the graphene nanoribbons are of greater than 90%, 95%, 99%, 99.5% or 99.9% purity and is of uniform length of about 50 μ

M, about 100 μ

M, about 150 μ

M or about 200 μ

M.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the carbon nanotubes are converted to graphene nanoribbons by chemical oxidation, plasma etching, electrochemical oxidation or sonochemistry.

7. Graphene nanoribbons of uniform length and greater than 90% purity.

8. The graphene nanoribbons of claim 7, wherein the uniform length is about 50 μ

M, about 100 μ

M, about 150 μ

M or about 200 μ

M.

9. The graphene nanoribbons of claim 7, wherein the purity is greater than 95%, 99%, 99.5% or 99.9%.

11. The graphene nanoribbons of claim 7, wherein the purity is greater than 95%, 99%, 99.5% or 99.9% and the uniform length is about 50 μ

M, about 100 μ

M, about 150 μ

M or about 200 μ

M.

12. The graphene nanoribbons of claim 7 suspended in oil or lubricant.

13. The suspension of claim 12, wherein the concentration of graphene nanoribbons is about 25 mg/L, about 50 mg/L, 100 mg/L or about 200 mg/L.

14. (canceled)

15. A method for synthesizing a mixture of graphene nanoribbons and graphene nanoplatelets comprising:

continuously depositing catalyst on a constantly moving substrate;

forming carbon nanotubes on the substrate;

separating carbon nanotubes from the substrate;

collecting carbon nanotubes; and

converting the carbon nanotubes to a mixture of graphene nanoribbons and graphene nanoplatelets;

wherein the substrate moves sequentially through the depositing, forming, separating and collecting steps.

16. The graphene nanoplatelets and graphene nanoribbons of claim 15 suspended in oil or lubricants.

17. The suspension of claim 16, wherein the concentration of graphene nanoplatelets and graphene nanoribbons is about 25 mg/L, about 50 mg/L, 100 mg/L or about 200 mg/L.

18-21. -21. (canceled)