Method and apparatus for producing carbon nanostructures
First Claim
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1. A method for producing carbon nanostructures, the method including:
- (a) placing hydrocarbon molecules in contact with a reactant liquid;
(b) liberating carbon atoms from the hydrocarbon molecules by reaction of the hydrocarbon molecules with the reactant liquid, and placing the liberated carbon atoms in an excited state within the reactant liquid;
(c) enabling the liberated carbon atoms in the excited state to traverse a surface of the reactant liquid to escape into a collection chamber which defines a collection area above the reactant liquid;
(d) maintaining conditions in the collection chamber in which the liberated carbon atoms which have traversed the surface of the reactant liquid phase change to a ground state within the collection chamber to produce carbon nanostructures within the collection chamber; and
(e) removing the carbon nanostructures from the collection chamber.
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Abstract
A method includes liberating carbon atoms from hydrocarbon molecules by reaction with or in a reactant liquid and maintaining the liberated carbon atoms in an excited state. The chemically excited liberated carbon atoms are then enabled to traverse a surface of the reactant liquid and are directed across a collection surface. The collection surface and the conditions at and around the collection surface are maintained so that the liberated carbon atoms in the excited state phase change to a ground state by carbon nanostructure self-assembly.
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Citations
11 Claims
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1. A method for producing carbon nanostructures, the method including:
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(a) placing hydrocarbon molecules in contact with a reactant liquid; (b) liberating carbon atoms from the hydrocarbon molecules by reaction of the hydrocarbon molecules with the reactant liquid, and placing the liberated carbon atoms in an excited state within the reactant liquid; (c) enabling the liberated carbon atoms in the excited state to traverse a surface of the reactant liquid to escape into a collection chamber which defines a collection area above the reactant liquid; (d) maintaining conditions in the collection chamber in which the liberated carbon atoms which have traversed the surface of the reactant liquid phase change to a ground state within the collection chamber to produce carbon nanostructures within the collection chamber; and (e) removing the carbon nanostructures from the collection chamber. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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