Method for producing self-assembled objects comprising single-wall carbon nanotubes and compositions thereof

• US 7,048,999 B2
• Filed: 12/28/2001
• Issued: 05/23/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 03/07/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Rice University
• Original Assignee: Wiiliam Marsh Rice University
• Inventors: Smalley, Richard E., Liu, Jie, Rinzler, Andrew G., Nikolaev, Pavel, Colbert, Daniel T., Thess, Andreas, Hafner, Jason H., Smith, Kenneth A., Guo, Ting, Dai, Hongjie
• Primary Examiner(s): HENDRICKSON, STUART L
• Application Number:
  US10/033,228
• Publication Number:
  US 20020085968A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,607 Days
• Field of Search: 423/447.2, 977/DIG.1, 428/367
• US Class Current: 428/367
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 19/081 employing particle radiation or gamma-radiation
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 19/087 employing electric or magnetic energy
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 19/10 employing sonic or ultrasonic vibrations
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 19/121 Coherent waves, e.g. laser beams lasers per se H01S3/00
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 19/126 Microwaves
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 19/129 Radiofrequency
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 21/185 Carbon nanotubes carbon nanotubes per se C01B32/15
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/00078 Fingers
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/0892 involving catalytically active material
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 23/74 Iron group metals
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 23/755 Nickel
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 23/8913 Cobalt and noble metals
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 37/0238 via the gaseous phase-sublimation
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 37/349 making use of flames, plasmas or lasers
• CPC Class Codes: B82B 3/00 Manufacture or treatment of nanostructures by manipulation of individual atoms or molecules, or limited collections of atoms or molecules as discrete units
• CPC Class Codes: C01B 2202/02 Single-walled nanotubes
• CPC Class Codes: C01B 32/156 After-treatment
• CPC Class Codes: C01B 32/162 characterised by catalysts
• CPC Class Codes: C01B 32/17 Purification
• CPC Class Codes: D01F 9/12 Carbon filaments; Apparatus specially adapted for the manufacture thereof
• CPC Class Codes: D01F 9/127 : by thermal decomposition of hydrocarbon gases or vapours or other carbon-containing compounds in the form of gas or vapour, e.g. carbon monoxide, alcohols
• CPC Class Codes: D21H 27/00 : Special paper not otherwise provided for, e.g. made by multi-step processes
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 9/1418 : Disposition or mounting of heads or record carriers G11B17/00 and G11B19/00 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 9/1445 : switching at least one head in operating function; Controlling the relative spacing to keep the head operative, e.g. for allowing a tunnel current flow
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 9/1472 : characterised by the form
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 9/149 : characterised by the memorising material or structure
• CPC Class Codes: G11C 13/0014 : comprising cells based on organic memory material
• CPC Class Codes: G11C 13/0019 : comprising bio-molecules
• CPC Class Codes: G11C 13/025 : using fullerenes, e.g. C60, or nanotubes, e.g. carbon or silicon nanotubes
• CPC Class Codes: G11C 2213/16 : Memory cell being a nanotube, e.g. suspended nanotube
• CPC Class Codes: G11C 2213/71 : Three dimensional array
• CPC Class Codes: G11C 2213/81 : Array wherein the array conductors, e.g. word lines, bit lines, are made of nanowires
• CPC Class Codes: H01G 9/2059 : comprising an organic dye as the active light absorbing material, e.g. adsorbed on an electrode or dissolved in solution
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 31/0352 : characterised by their shape or by the shapes, relative sizes or disposition of the semiconductor regions
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 31/06 : characterised by potential barriers
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 31/18 : Processes or apparatus specially adapted for the manufacture or treatment of these devices or of parts thereof
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/0525 : Rocking-chair batteries, i.e. batteries with lithium insertion or intercalation in both electrodes; Lithium-ion batteries
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 4/133 : Electrodes based on carbonaceous material, e.g. graphite-intercalation compounds or CFx
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 4/525 : of mixed oxides or hydroxides containing iron, cobalt or nickel for inserting or intercalating light metals, e.g. LiNiO2, LiCoO2 or LiCoOxFy
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 4/583 : Carbonaceous material, e.g. graphite-intercalation compounds or CFx
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 4/587 : for inserting or intercalating light metals
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 4/625 : Carbon or graphite
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 10/542 : Dye sensitized solar cells
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/10 : Energy storage using batteries
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 70/50 : Manufacturing or production processes characterised by the final manufactured product
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 977/70 : Nanostructure
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 977/742 : Carbon nanotubes, CNTs
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 977/745 : having a modified surface
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 977/748 : Modified with atoms or molecules bonded to the surface
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 977/75 : Single-walled
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 977/753 : with polymeric or organic binder
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 977/789 : in array format
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 977/842 : for carbon nanotubes or fullerenes
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 977/843 : Gas phase catalytic growth, i.e. chemical vapor deposition
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 977/845 : Purification or separation of fullerenes or nanotubes
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 977/847 : Surface modifications, e.g. functionalization, coating
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 977/848 : Tube end modifications, e.g. capping, joining, splicing
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 977/849 : with scanning probe
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 977/882 : Assembling of separate components, e.g. by attaching
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 977/948 : Energy storage/generating using nanostructure, e.g. fuel cell, battery
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/24058 : including grain, strips, or filamentary elements in respective layers or components in angular relation
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/2918 : including free carbon or carbide or therewith [not as steel]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/292 : In coating or impregnation
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/30 : Self-sustaining carbon mass or layer with impregnant or other layer

Abstract

This invention relates generally to a method for producing self-assembled objects comprising single-wall carbon nanotubes (SWNTs) and compositions thereof. In one embodiment, the present invention involves a three-dimensional structure of derivatized single-wall nanotube molecules that spontaneously form. It includes several component molecule having multiple derivatives brought together to assemble into the three-dimensional structure. In another embodiment, objects may be obtained by bonding functionally-specific agents (FSAs) groups of nanotubes into geometric structures. The bond selectivity of FSAs allow selected nanotubes of a particular size or kind to assemble together and inhibit the assembling of unselected nanotubes that may also be present.

Claims

1. A three-dimensional structure that self-assembles from derivatized single-wall carbon nanotube molecules comprising:

a plurality of multifunctional single-wall carbon nanotubes assembled into said three-dimensional structure.

2. The three-dimensional structure of claim 1, wherein said single-wall carbon nanotubes have multifunctional derivatives on their end caps.

3. The three-dimensional structure of claim 1, wherein said single-wall carbon nanotubes have multifunctional derivatives at multiple locations on said single-wall carbon nanotubes.

4. The three-dimensional structure of claim 1, wherein said single-wall carbon nanotubes are assembled as a result of van der Waals attractions.

5. A three-dimensional structure of claim 1, which has electromagnetic properties.

6. The three-dimensional structure of claim 5, wherein said electromagnetic properties are determined by a functionally-specific agent.

7. A three-dimensional structure of claim 1, which is symmetrical.

8. A three-dimensional structure of claim 1, which is not symmetrical.

9. A three-dimensional structure of claim 1, which has biological properties.

10. A three-dimensional structure of claim 9, which operates as a catalyst for biochemical reactions.

38. A three-dimensional structure of claim 9, which interacts with living tissue.

39. A three-dimensional structure of claim 9, which serves as an agent for interaction with functions of a biological system.

11. A method for producing self-assembling component molecules comprising:

(a) providing single-wall carbon nanotubes; and

(b) derivatizing at least one of the single-wall carbon nanotubes with a functionally-specific agent, wherein the functionally-specific agent has an attraction for at least one other chemical species.

12. A method for producing self-assembled structures comprising:

(a) providing single-wall carbon nanotubes derivatized with at least one functionally-specific agent;

(b) exposing the derivatized nanotubes to another moiety for which the functionally-specific agent has an attraction; and

(c) recovering assemblies formed by the derivatized nanotubes.

13. The method of claim 12 further comprising removing at least one of the functionally-specific agents after the assemblies are formed.

14. The method of claim 12 further comprising modifying the assembles by a treatment selected from the group consisting of mechanical, chemical, electrical, optical, biological and combinations thereof.

15. A structure formed by the process comprising:

(a) providing single-wall carbon nanotubes derivatized with at least one functionally-specific agent;

(b) exposing the derivatized nanotubes to another moiety for which the functionally-specific agent has an attraction; and

(c) recovering assemblies formed by the derivatized nanotubes.

16. The structure of claim 15 wherein the single-wall carbon nanotubes are derivatized with at least two different functionally-specific agents.

17. The structure of claim 15 wherein the functionally-specific agents are derivatized on the ends of the single-wall carbon nanotubes.

18. The structure of claim 15 wherein the structure is symmetrical.

19. The structure of claim 15 wherein the structure is not symmetrical.

20. The structure of claim 15 wherein the structure is three-dimensional.

21. The structure of claim 15 wherein the structure is an electrical circuit.

22. The structure of claim 15 wherein the structure is a diode junction.

23. The structure of claim 15 wherein the structure is a capacitor.

24. The structure of claim 23 wherein the capacitor is a memory element.

25. The structure of claim 15 wherein the structure is an inductor.

26. The structure of claim 15 wherein the structure is a pass element.

27. The structure of claim 15 wherein the structure is a switch.

28. The structure of claim 15 wherein the structure is an antenna.

29. The structure of claim 15 wherein the structure is an antenna array.

30. The structure of claim 15 wherein the structure is capable of interaction with an optical fiber.

31. The structure of claim 15 wherein the structure is a catalyst.

32. The structure of claim 15 wherein the structure is a sorbent for specific chemicals.

33. The structure of claim 15 wherein the structure is resistant to attack by specific chemicals.

34. The structure of claim 15 wherein the structure is resistant to corrosion.

35. The structure of claim 15 wherein the structure is a pharmaceutical substance.

36. The structure of claim 15 wherein the structure is an agent capable of enabling growth of biological systems.

37. The structure of claim 15 wherein the structure is capable of interacting with biological systems.