Process for producing single wall nanotubes using unsupported metal catalysts and single wall nanotubes produced according to this method

• US 7,097,821 B1
• Filed: 10/27/2004
• Issued: 08/29/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 08/04/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Hyperion Catalysis International Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Hyperion Catalysis International Incorporated
• Inventors: Moy, David, Chishti, Asif
• Primary Examiner(s): HENDRICKSON, STUART L
• Application Number:
  US10/974,161
• Time in Patent Office: 671 Days
• Field of Search: 423/447.3
• US Class Current: 423/447.3
• CPC Class Codes: B82Y 30/00 Nanotechnology for materials or surface science, e.g. nanocomposites
• 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: D01F 9/1278 Carbon monoxide
• CPC Class Codes: D01F 9/133 Apparatus therefor
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 977/843 Gas phase catalytic growth, i.e. chemical vapor deposition

Abstract

A process for producing hollow, single-walled carbon nanotubes by catalytic decomposition of one or more gaseous carbon compounds by first forming a gas phase mixture carbon feed stock gas comprising one or more gaseous carbon compounds, each having one to six carbon atoms and only H, O, N, S or Cl as hetero atoms, optionally admixed with hydrogen, and a gas phase metal containing compound which is unstable under reaction conditions for said decomposition, and which forms a metal containing catalyst which acts as a decomposition catalyst under reaction conditions; and then conducting said decomposition reaction under decomposition reaction conditions, thereby producing said nanotubes.

Claims

1. A method for producing single walled carbon nanotubes comprising the steps of:

(a) heating a reactor to at least 900°

C.,

(b) providing a first argon flow into said reactor,

(c) replacing said first argon flow with a CO flow,

(d) injecting into said reactor ground Mo(CO)₆ particles,

(e) conducting catalytic decomposition of CO in said reactor,

(f) replacing said CO flow with a second argon flow, and

(g) cooling said reactor to room temperature.