Continuous fiber of single-wall carbon nanotubes

• US 7,097,820 B2
• Filed: 12/21/2001
• Issued: 08/29/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 08/08/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Rice University
• Original Assignee: Rice University
• Inventors: Rinzler, Andrew G., Smalley, Richard E., Colbert, Daniel T., Hafner, Jason H., Dai, Hongjie
• Primary Examiner(s): Silverman, Stanley S.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Lish, Peter J.
• Application Number:
  US10/027,726
• Publication Number:
  US 20030010910A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,712 Days
• Field of Search: 423/447.1, 423/477.2, 423/445.R, 423/445.B, 252/502, 428/367
• US Class Current: 423/447.2
• CPC Class Codes: B82Y 10/00 Nanotechnology for information processing, storage or transmission, e.g. quantum computing or single electron logic
• CPC Class Codes: B82Y 15/00 Nanotechnology for interacting, sensing or actuating, e.g. quantum dots as markers in protein assays or molecular motors
• CPC Class Codes: B82Y 30/00 Nanotechnology for materials or surface science, e.g. nanocomposites
• CPC Class Codes: B82Y 35/00 Methods or apparatus for measurement or analysis of nanostructures
• CPC Class Codes: B82Y 40/00 Manufacture or treatment of nanostructures
• CPC Class Codes: C01B 2202/02 Single-walled nanotubes
• CPC Class Codes: C01B 2202/06 Multi-walled nanotubes
• CPC Class Codes: C01B 2202/08 Aligned nanotubes
• CPC Class Codes: C01B 2202/24 Thermal properties
• CPC Class Codes: C01B 2202/34 Length
• CPC Class Codes: C01B 32/154 Preparation
• CPC Class Codes: C01B 32/162 characterised by catalysts
• CPC Class Codes: C01B 32/174 Derivatisation; Solubilisation; Dispersion in solvents
• CPC Class Codes: G01Q 70/12 Nanotube tips
• CPC Class Codes: G01Q 70/16 Probe manufacture
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 11/007 with reproducing by means directly associated with the tip of a microscopic electrical probe as defined in G11B9/14 details of heads G11B9/1409; disposition or mounting of heads G11B9/1418
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 9/1409 Heads
• CPC Class Codes: G11C 13/025 using fullerenes, e.g. C60, or nanotubes, e.g. carbon or silicon nanotubes
• CPC Class Codes: G11C 2213/81 Array wherein the array conductors, e.g. word lines, bit lines, are made of nanowires
• CPC Class Codes: H01J 2201/30469 Carbon nanotubes (CNTs)
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 977/70 : Nanostructure
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 977/75 : Single-walled
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 977/789 : in array format
• 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: Y10T 428/249977 : Specified thickness of void-containing component [absolute or relative], numerical cell dimension or density
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/2918 : including free carbon or carbide or therewith [not as steel]

Abstract

This invention relates generally to carbon fiber produced from single-wall carbon nanotube (SWNT) molecular arrays. In one embodiment, the carbon fiber which comprises an aggregation of substantially parallel carbon nanotubes comprises more than one molecular array. Another embodiment of this invention is a large cable-like structure with enhanced tensile properties comprising a number of smaller separate arrays. In another embodiment, a composite structure is disclosed in which a central core array of metallic SWNTs is surrounded by a series of smaller circular non-metallic SWNT arrays.

Claims

1. A continuous carbon fiber comprising single-wall carbon nanotubes in substantially parallel orientation, wherein a substantial portion of the single-wall carbon nanotubes have a homogeneous characteristic selected from the group consisting of lengths, diameters, helicities and combinations thereof and having a composite structure comprising:

a) a first plurality of single-wall carbon nanotubes in a first region having a first homogeneous characteristic, wherein the first homogeneous characteristic is selected from the group consisting of lengths, diameters, helicities and combinations thereof;

b) a second plurality of single-wall carbon nanotubes in a second region having a second homogeneous characteristic, wherein the second homogeneous characteristic is selected from the group consisting of lengths, diameters, helicities and combinations thereof; and

c) wherein

(i) the first plurality of single-wall carbon nanotubes is different from the second plurality of single-wall carbon nanotubes and

(ii) the first homogeneous characteristic is different from the second homogeneous characteristic.

2. The fiber of claim 1 wherein the first region and the second region are in different segments along the axis of the fiber.

3. The fiber of claim 1 wherein the first region and the second region are simultaneously present in a cross-section of the fiber.

4. A composite fiber comprising a first plurality of continuous carbon fibers and a second plurality of carbon continuous fibers, wherein:

(a) each of the first plurality of continuous carbon fibers comprises single-wall carbon nanotubes in substantially parallel orientation and is similar to the other continuous carbon fibers in the first plurality of continuous carbon fibers;

(b) each of the second plurality of continuous carbon fibers comprises single-wall carbon nanotubes in substantially parallel orientation and is similar to the other continuous carbon fibers in the second plurality of continuous carbon fibers; and

(c) the continuous carbon fibers of the first plurality of continuous carbon fibers are different from the continuous carbon fibers of the second plurality of carbon fibers.

5. The composite fiber of claim 4 wherein the composite fiber is a cable-like structure.

6. The composite fiber of claim 4 wherein at least some of the single-wall carbon nanotubes in at least a portion of the composite fiber are not parallel.

7. A composite fiber comprising a plurality of continuous carbon fibers, wherein each of the continuous carbon fibers comprise single-wall carbon nanotubes in substantially parallel orientation, wherein the composite fiber further comprises:

a) a central core comprising metallic single-wall carbon nanotubes; and

b) non-metallic single-wall carbon nanotubes, wherein the non-metallic single-wall carbon nanotubes surround the central core.