Method of making functionalized nanotubes

• US 6,203,814 B1
• Filed: 12/08/1994
• Issued: 03/20/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 12/08/1994
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Hyperion Catalysis International Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Hyperion Catalysis International Incorporated
• Inventors: Niu, Chunming, McCarthy, Thomas, Fisher, Alan, Hoch, Robert, Tennent, Howard, Moy, David, Ogata, Naoya
• Primary Examiner(s): Webman, Edward J.
• Application Number:
  US08/352,400
• Time in Patent Office: 2,294 Days
• Field of Search: 427/367, 427/2.1, 427/2.31, 427/299, 427/444, 423/449--44, 423/460, 428/373, 428/375, 428/398, 428/400, 530/811, 424/400, 424/443
• US Class Current: 424/443
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 33/44 Elemental carbon, e.g. charcoal, carbon black
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 48/00 Medicinal preparations containing genetic material which is inserted into cells of the living body to treat genetic diseases; Gene therapy
• 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 2202/34 Length
• CPC Class Codes: C01B 2202/36 Diameter
• CPC Class Codes: C01B 32/156 After-treatment
• CPC Class Codes: C01B 32/174 Derivatisation; Solubilisation; Dispersion in solvents
• CPC Class Codes: C07H 21/02 with ribosyl as saccharide radical
• CPC Class Codes: C07K 17/06 attached to the carrier via a bridging agent
• CPC Class Codes: D01F 11/14 with organic compounds, e.g. macromolecular compounds
• CPC Class Codes: D01F 9/12 Carbon filaments; Apparatus specially adapted for the manufacture thereof
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2030/8863 Fullerenes
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/5438 Electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/582 with fluorescent label
• CPC Class Codes: G11C 13/025 using fullerenes, e.g. C60, or nanotubes, e.g. carbon or silicon nanotubes
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 4/60 of organic compounds
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/10 Energy storage using batteries
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 530/811 Peptides or proteins is immobilized on, or in, an inorganic carrier
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 977/742 Carbon nanotubes, CNTs
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 977/746 : Modified with biological, organic, or hydrocarbon material
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 977/847 : Surface modifications, e.g. functionalization, coating
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/249921 : Web or sheet containing structurally defined element or component
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/25 : Web or sheet containing structurally defined element or component and including a second component containing structurally defined particles
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/2927 : including structurally defined particulate matter

Abstract

Graphitic nanotubes, which includes tubular fullerenes (commonly called “buckytubes”) and fibrils, which are functionalized by chemical substitution or by adsorption of functional moieties. More specifically the invention relates to graphitic nanotubes which are uniformly or non-uniformly substituted with chemical moieties or upon which certain cyclic compounds are adsorbed and to complex structures comprised of such functionalized fibrils linked to one another. The invention also relates to methods of introducing functional groups onto the surface of such fibrils.

Claims

1. A method of introducing functional groups onto the surface of carbon nanotubes to form a functionalized nanotube having the formula

2. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein the carbon fibrils are subjected to processing prior to contact with the oxidizing agents.

3. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein the processing comprises dispersing the carbon fibrils in a solvent.

4. A method as recited in claim 3, wherein after being dispersed in the solvent the carbon fibrils are filtered and dried.

5. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein the alkali metal chlorate is sodium chlorate or potassium chlorate.

6. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein the strong acid is sulfuric acid.

7. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein the functional group added to the surface-oxidized fibrils is alkyl/aryl silane.

8. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein the functional group added to the surface-oxidized fibrils is a alkyl/aralkyl group.

9. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein the functional group added to the surface-oxidized fibrils is a hydroxyl group.

10. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein the functional group added to the surface-oxidized fibrils is a amine group.

11. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein the functional group added to the surface-oxidized fibrils is a fluorocarbon.

12. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein the time sufficient for oxidization is between about 0.5 hour and 24 hours.