Electrochemical deposition of carbon nanoparticles from organic solutions

• US 6,758,957 B1
• Filed: 04/09/2002
• Issued: 07/06/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 04/17/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: University of Central Florida Research Foundation Inc. (State University System of Florida)
• Original Assignee: University of Central Florida (State University System of Florida)
• Inventors: Chow, Lee, Zhou, Dan
• Primary Examiner(s): Nicolas, Wesley A.
• Application Number:
  US10/119,414
• Time in Patent Office: 819 Days
• Field of Search: 205/109, 205/157, 205/234, 205/235, 205/316, 205/317, 205/413
• US Class Current: 205/109
• 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 32/162 characterised by catalysts
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 977/742 Carbon nanotubes, CNTs
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 977/842 for carbon nanotubes or fullerenes
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 977/899 Electrolytic

Abstract

Carbon nanoparticles including both nanofilaments and nanotubes produced by an electrochemical deposition method from organic solutions at room temperature, in which the formation and growth of carbon nanoparticles are stimulated by the catalyst, such as iron and nickel. It has been found that the electrochemical deposition conditions have a strong influence on the growth phenomenon of the carbon nanotubes. Scanning electron microscope (SEM) and transmitting electron microscope (TEM) characterizations show that the diameter of nanotubes is of the order of approximately 100 nm, and the length of filaments can be up to approximately 50 μm, depending on the size of catalyst particles.

Claims

1. A method of producing carbon nanoparticles comprising the steps of:

(a) providing an electrochemical bath of an organic solution disposed between silicon wafers coated with iron and nickel nanoparticles as electrodes;

(b) imposing a direct current potential volts between said electrodes; and

,

(c) imposing a current density of approximately 12 milliamps per square centimeter between said electrodes for a time sufficient that carbon nanoparticles are developed on said electrodes.

2. The method according to claim 1 wherein said organic solution is a mixture of methanol and benzyl alcohol.

3. The method according to claim 1 wherein said organic solution is at a temperature of from approximately 10 to approximately 80 degrees C.

4. The method according to claim 3 wherein said organic solution is at a temperature of from approximately 25 to approximately 60 degrees C.

5. The method according to claim 1 wherein said organic solution is at room temperature.

6. The method according to claim 1 wherein said organic solution is at an electric field of from approximately 5 (10⁴) to approximately 5 (10⁵) dc volts/meter.

7. The method according to claim 6 wherein said organic solution is at an electric field of approximately 2 (10⁵) dc volts/meter.