High purity nanotube fabrics and films

• US 7,858,185 B2
• Filed: 06/03/2004
• Issued: 12/28/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 09/08/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: ZEON Corporation
• Original Assignee: Nantero Incorporated
• Inventors: Sivarajan, Ramesh, Segal, Brent M., Rueckes, Thomas, Sen, Rahul
• Primary Examiner(s): Hendricks; Keith D
• Assistant Examiner(s): MILLER, DANIEL H
• Application Number:
  US10/860,332
• Publication Number:
  US 20050058797A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,399 Days
• Field of Search: 428/408, 427/445, 977/323, 977/742, 423/447
• US Class Current: 428/408
• 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 30/00 Nanotechnology for materials or surface science, e.g. nanocomposites
• CPC Class Codes: H01B 1/18 the conductive material comprising carbon-silicon compounds, carbon or silicon
• CPC Class Codes: H10K 30/821 comprising carbon nanotubes
• CPC Class Codes: H10K 85/221 Carbon nanotubes
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 977/742 Carbon nanotubes, CNTs
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/1376 Foam or porous material containing
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/1393 Multilayer [continuous layer]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/30 Self-sustaining carbon mass or layer with impregnant or other layer

Abstract

Certain spin-coatable liquids and application techniques are described, which can be used to form nanotube films or fabrics of controlled properties. A spin-coatable liquid for formation of a nanotube film includes a liquid medium containing a controlled concentration of purified nanotubes, wherein the controlled concentration is sufficient to form a nanotube fabric or film of preselected density and uniformity, and wherein the spin-coatable liquid comprises less than 1×10¹⁸ atoms/cm³ of metal impurities. The spin-coatable liquid is substantially free of particle impurities having a diameter of greater than about 500 nm.

Claims

1. A nanotube film comprising:

a solution-deposited network of connected and purified nanotubes on a substrate, wherein

the nanotubes form a film of substantially uniform porosity,

the film is free of amorphous carbon,

the film is free of polymer and surfactants,

the film comprises less than about 1×

10¹⁸ atoms/cm² of metallic impurities, and

the film is free of particle impurities having a diameter of greater than about 500 nm.

2. The nanotube film of claim 1, wherein the film comprises less than about 15×

10¹⁰ atoms/cm² of metallic impurities.

3. The nanotube film of claim 1, wherein the film comprises less than about 15×

10¹⁰ atoms/cm² of heavy metal impurities.

4. The nanotube film of claim 1, wherein the film comprises less than about 15×

10¹⁰ atoms/cm² of group I and group II element impurities.

5. The nanotube film of claim 1, wherein the film comprises less than about 15×

10¹⁰ atoms/cm² of transition metal impurities.

6. The nanotube film of claim 1, wherein the film comprises less than about 1×

10¹⁸ atoms/cm² of heavy metal impurities.

7. The nanotube film of claim 1, wherein the film comprises less than about 1×

10¹⁸ atoms/cm² of group I and group II element impurities.

8. The nanotube film of claim 1, wherein the film comprises less than about 1×

10¹⁸ atoms/cm² of transition metal impurities.

9. The nanotube film of claim 1, wherein the film is free of particle impurities having a diameter of greater than about 300 nm.

10. The nanotube film of claim 1, wherein the nanotubes comprise conductive nanotubes.

11. The nanotube film of claim 1, wherein the film comprises a mono-layer of nanotubes.

12. The nanotube film of claim 1, wherein the film comprises a multilayer of nanotubes.

13. An assembly comprising

a substrate and a conductive element disposed on the substrate, wherein

the conductive element comprises a solution-deposited network of purified nanotubes having a substantially uniform porosity contacting other purified nanotubes to define a plurality of conductive pathways along the conductive element,

the conductive element is free of amorphous carbon,

the conductive element is free of polymer and surfactants,

the conductive element comprises less than 1×

10¹⁸ atoms/cm² of metal impurities and

the conductive element is free of particle impurities greater than about 500 nm.

14. The assembly of claim 13, wherein the assembly comprises less than about 15×

10¹⁰ atoms/cm² of metal impurities.

15. The assembly of claim 13, wherein the assembly comprises less than about 1×

10¹⁸ atoms/cm² of heavy metal impurities.

16. The assembly of claim 13, wherein the assembly comprises less than about 15×

10¹⁰ atoms/cm² of heavy metal impurities.

17. The assembly of claim 13, wherein the assembly comprises less than about 1×

10¹⁸ atoms/cm² of group I and group II element impurities.

18. The assembly of claim 13, wherein the assembly comprises less than about 1×

10¹⁸ atoms/cm² of transition metal impurities.

19. The assembly of claim 13, wherein the assembly comprises less than about 15×

10¹⁰ atoms/cm² of group I and group II element impurities.

20. The assembly of claim 13, wherein the assembly comprises less than about 15×

10¹⁰ atoms/cm² of transition metal impurities.

21. The assembly of claim 13, wherein the nanotubes comprise conductive nanotubes.

22. The assembly of claim 13, wherein the assembly comprises a mono-layer of nanotubes.

23. The assembly of claim 13, wherein the assembly comprises a multilayer of nanotubes.