Method for making carbon nanotube yarn

• US 7,704,480 B2
• Filed: 10/26/2006
• Issued: 04/27/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 12/16/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Tsinghua University
• Original Assignee: Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd., Tsinghua University
• Inventors: Fan, Shou-Shan, Jiang, Kai-Li
• Primary Examiner(s): Silverman; Stanley S.
• Assistant Examiner(s): MCCRACKEN, DANIEL
• Application Number:
  US11/586,976
• Publication Number:
  US 20070166223A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,279 Days
• Field of Search: 423/447.1, 423/447.2, 423/447.3, 428/367
• US Class Current: 423/447.2
• 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: D02G 3/16 Yarns or threads made from mineral substances
• CPC Class Codes: D10B 2101/122 Nanocarbons
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/2918 including free carbon or carbide or therewith [not as steel]

Abstract

A carbon nanotube yarn includes a number of carbon nanotube yarn strings bound together, and each of the carbon nanotube yarn strings includes a number of carbon nanotube bundles that are joined end to end by van der Waals attractive force, and each of the carbon nanotube bundles includes a number of carbon nanotubes substantially parallel to each other. A method for making the carbon nanotube yarn includes soaking the at least one carbon nanotube yarn string drawn out from a carbon nanotube array in an organic solvent to shrink it and then collecting it.

Claims

1. A method for making a carbon nanotube yarn, the method comprising the steps of:

(1) providing a carbon nanotube array that is able to have one or more carbon nanotube yarn strings drawn therefrom;

(2) drawing out at least one planar carbon nanotube yarn string from the carbon nanotube array;

(3) applying organic solvent to the at least one carbon nanotube yarn string;

(4) removing the organic solvent such that the at least one planar carbon nanotube yarn string shrinks into a single non-planar strand of carbon nanotube yarn due to the surface tension of the organic solvent.

2. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the carbon nanotube array is manufactured using a chemical vapor deposition method.

3. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the at least one carbon nanotube yarn string is drawn out from the carbon nanotube array using tweezers.

4. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the at least one carbon nanotube yarn string comprises a plurality of carbon nanotube bundles substantially parallel to each other which are joined end to end by van der Waals attractive force, and each of the carbon nanotube bundles comprises a plurality of carbon nanotubes substantially parallel to each other.

5. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the organic solvent is selected from the group consisting of ethanol, methanol, acetone, dichloroethane, chloroform, and any combination thereof.

6. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein a width of the carbon nanotube yarn string is in the approximate range from 200 microns to 1 millimeter.

7. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein a diameter of the carbon nanotube yarn is in the approximate range from 20 to 30 microns.

8. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the organic solvent volatilizes at room temperature.

9. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the carbon nanotube yarn string is soaked by passing the carbon nanotube yarn string through the organic solvent.

12. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein there are at least two or more planar carbon nanotube yarn strings drawn from the carbon nanotube array.

10. A method for making a carbon nanotube yarn, the method comprising the steps of:

(1) providing a carbon nanotube array that is able to have one or more carbon nanotube yarn strings drawn therefrom;

(2) drawing out a number of planar carbon nanotube yarn strings from the carbon nanotube array;

(3) placing a container above the planar carbon nanotube yarn strings, the container containing an organic solvent for treating the planar carbon nanotube yarn strings;

(4) supplying the organic solvent to a pathway, the pathway being coupled to a bottom of the container and is in communication with the container, the pathway having a through hole defined therein;

(5) passing the planar carbon nanotube yarn strings through the through hole continuously to soak the planar carbon nanotube yarn strings in the organic solvent; and

(6) allowing the planar carbon nanotube yarn strings to shrink into a single strand of carbon nanotube yarn due to the surface tension of the organic solvent as the organic solvent is removed.

11. A method for making a carbon nanotube yarn, the method comprising the steps of:

(1) providing a carbon nanotube array that is able to have one or more carbon nanotube yarn strings drawn therefrom;

(2) drawing out a number of carbon nanotube yarn strings from the carbon nanotube array;

(3) having a container, the container containing an organic solvent for treating the carbon nanotube yarn strings;

(4) supplying the organic solvent to a pathway, the pathway being coupled to the container and is in communication with the container, the pathway being connected and coupled to at least one rod;

(5) establishing contact between the carbon nanotube yarn strings and the rod continuously to soak the carbon nanotube yarn strings in the organic solvent; and

(6) allowing the carbon nanotube yarn strings to shrink into a single strand of carbon nanotube yarn due to the surface tension of the organic solvent as the organic solvent is removed.