BX CY NZ nanotubes and nanoparticles

• US 6,231,980 B1
• Filed: 11/25/1997
• Issued: 05/15/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 02/14/1995
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Regents of the University of California (University of California)
• Original Assignee: Regents of the University of California (University of California)
• Inventors: Cohen, Marvin Lou, Zettl, Alexander Karlwalter
• Primary Examiner(s): LE, HOA T
• Application Number:
  US08/978,435
• Time in Patent Office: 1,267 Days
• Field of Search: 428/402, 428/408, 423/276, 423/290, 423/291, 423/364, 423/371, 423/414, 423/445.R, 423/351, 423/406, 423/439
• US Class Current: 428/402
• CPC Class Codes: B82Y 30/00 Nanotechnology for materials or surface science, e.g. nanocomposites
• CPC Class Codes: C01B 21/0648 After-treatment, e.g. grinding, purification transformation of hexagonal into cubic or wurtzitic boron nitride C04B35/5831
• CPC Class Codes: C01B 21/0828 Carbonitrides or oxycarbonitrides of metals, boron or silicon
• CPC Class Codes: C01B 32/991 Boron carbide
• CPC Class Codes: C01P 2004/13 Nanotubes
• CPC Class Codes: C01P 2004/64 Nanometer sized, i.e. from 1-100 nanometer
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 977/734 Fullerenes, i.e. graphene-based structures, such as nanohorns, nanococoons, nanoscrolls or fullerene-like structures, e.g. WS2 or MoS2 chalcogenide nanotubes, planar C3N4, etc.
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 977/741 Modified with dissimilar atom or molecule substituted for carbon atoms of the buckyball, e.g. impurity doping or compositional substitution
• 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 977/762 Nanowire or quantum wire, i.e. axially elongated structure having two dimensions of 100 nm or less
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 977/773 Nanoparticle, i.e. structure having three dimensions of 100 nm or less
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/2982 Particulate matter [e.g., sphere, flake, etc.]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/30 Self-sustaining carbon mass or layer with impregnant or other layer

Abstract

The invention provides crystalline nanoscale particles and tubes made from a variety of stoichiometries of B_xC_yN_z where x, y, and z indicate a relative amount of each element compared to the others and where no more than one of x, y, or z are zero for a single stoichiometry. The nanotubes and nanoparticles are useful as miniature electronic components, such as wires, coils, schotky barriers, diodes, etc. The nanotubes and nanoparticles are also useful as coating that will protect an item from detection by electromagnetic monitoring techniques like radar. The nanotubes and nanoparticles are additionally useful for their mechanical properties, being comparable in strength and stiffness to the best graphite fibers or carbon nanotubes. The inventive nanoparticles are useful in lubricants and composites.

Claims

1. A nanotube comprising a crystalline structure of B_xC_yNz, where x, y, and z indicate a relative amount of each element compared to the others and where no more than one of x, y, or z are zero for a single stoichiometry;

and where x;

y;

z is selected from the group consisting of about 1;

2;

1, about 1;

3;

0, about 1;

0;

1, and about 0;

1;

1.

2. The nanotube of claim 1 wherein x, y, and z are integers.

3. The nanotube of claim 1 wherein the ratio of boron:

carbon;

nitrogen is about 1;

2;

1.

4. The nanotube of claim 3 further comprising dopant material.

5. The nanotube of claim 1 wherein the ratio of boron:

carbon;

nitrogen is about 1;

3;

0.

6. The nanotube of claim 5 further comprising dopant material.

7. The nanotube of claim 1 wherein the ratio of boron:

carbon;

nitrogen is about 1;

0;

1.

8. The nanotube of claim 7 further comprising dopant material.

9. The nanotube of claim 1 wherein the ratio of boron:

carbon;

nitrogen is about 0;

1;

1.

10. The nanotube of claim 9 further comprising dopant material.

11. A field emission device wherein the field emitters are comprised of nanotubes according to claim 1.

12. A composite material comprising nanotubes according to claim 1.

13. A nanotube comprising a crystalline structure of B_xC_yN_z, where x, y, and z indicate a relative amount of each element compared to the others and where no more than one of x, y, or z are zero for a single stoichiometry;

where x;

y;

z is selected from the group consisting of about 1;

2;

1, about 1;

3;

0, about 1;

0;

1, and about 0;

1;

1; and

further comprising dopant material.

14. A coating to hide objects from radar comprising electrically insulating nanotubes and nanoparticles wherein the nanotubes and nanoparticles are essentially comprised of boron and nitride in a ratio of about 1:

1.

15. The coating of claim 14 wherein the nanotubes and nanoparticles further comprise dopant material.

16. A nanoscale inductance element comprising boron, carbon, and nitrogen nanotubes wherein the elements are present in a ratio of about 1:

2;

1.

17. The inductance element of claim 16 further comprising dopant material.

18. The inductance element of claim 16 further comprising a metal atom inside the nanotube.

19. A position sensor comprising boron and carbon nanotubes wherein the elements are present in a ratio of about 1:

3.

20. A stress sensor comprising boron and carbon nanotubes wherein the elements are present in a ratio of about 1:

3.

21. A temperature sensor comprising boron and carbon nanotubes wherein the elements are present in a ratio of about 1:

3.

22. A nanoparticle comprising a crystalline structure of B_xC_yN_z, where x, y, and z indicate a relative amount of each element compared to the others and where no more than one of x, y, or z are zero for a single stoichiometry;

and where x;

y;

z is selected from the group consisting of about 1;

2;

1, about 1;

3;

0, about 1;

0;

1, and about 0;

1;

1.

23. The nanoparticle of claim 22 wherein x, y, and z are integers.

24. The nanoparticle of claim 23 where in the ratio of boron:

carbon;

nitrogen is about 1;

2;

1.

25. The nanoparticle of claim 22 further comprising dopant material.

26. The nanoparticle of claim 22 where in the ratio of boron:

carbon;

nitrogen is about 1;

3;

0.

27. The nanoparticle of claim 26 further comprising dopant material.

28. The nanoparticle of claim 22 wherein the ratio of boron:

carbon;

nitroqen is about 1;

0;

1.

29. The nanoparticle of claim 28 further comprising dopant material.

30. The nanoparticle of claim 22 where in the ratio of boron:

carbon;

nitrogen is about 0;

1;

1.

31. The nanoparticle of claim 30 further comprising dopant material.

32. A dry lubricant comprising nanoparticles according to claim 22.

33. An additive for wet lubricants comprising nanoparticles according to claim 22.

34. A material to fill microscopic cracks in composite materials comprising nanoparticles according to claim 22.

35. An additive to composite materials comprising nanoparticles according to claim 22.

36. The additive of claim 35 wherein the nanoparticles increase the strength of the composite material.