Spin-coatable liquid for formation of high purity nanotube films

• US 8,187,502 B2
• Filed: 07/25/2007
• Issued: 05/29/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 09/08/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: ZEON Corporation
• Original Assignee: Nantero Incorporated
• Inventors: Sen, Rahul, Sivarajan, Ramesh, Rueckes, Thomas, Segal, Brent M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Kopec, Mark
• Assistant Examiner(s): Nguyen, Tri V
• Application Number:
  US11/881,114
• Publication Number:
  US 20080179571A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,770 Days
• Field of Search: 252500-511, 252/518.1, 257/40, 977/742, 977/750, 977/752, 977/755, 977/764, 977/778, 977/786
• US Class Current: 252/502
• 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: B82Y 40/00 Manufacture or treatment of nanostructures
• CPC Class Codes: C01B 2202/02 Single-walled nanotubes
• CPC Class Codes: C01B 32/152 Fullerenes
• CPC Class Codes: C01B 32/168 After-treatment
• CPC Class Codes: C01B 32/17 Purification
• CPC Class Codes: C01P 2004/03 obtained by SEM
• CPC Class Codes: C01P 2004/13 Nanotubes
• CPC Class Codes: C01P 2006/40 Electric properties
• CPC Class Codes: C01P 2006/80 Compositional purity
• CPC Class Codes: C08K 3/04 Carbon
• CPC Class Codes: C09C 1/48 Carbon black
• CPC Class Codes: C09C 1/56 Treatment of carbon black ; Purification
• CPC Class Codes: C09D 7/61 inorganic
• CPC Class Codes: C09D 7/70 characterised by shape, e.g. fibres, flakes or microspheres
• CPC Class Codes: H10K 85/221 Carbon nanotubes
• CPC Class Codes: H10K 85/615 Polycyclic condensed aromatic hydrocarbons, e.g. anthracene
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 977/742 Carbon nanotubes, CNTs
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 977/75 Single-walled
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 977/752 : Multi-walled
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 977/755 : Nanosheet or quantum barrier/well, i.e. layer structure having one dimension or thickness of 100 nm or less
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 977/764 : with specified packing density
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 977/778 : within specified host or matrix material, e.g. nanocomposite films
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 977/786 : Fluidic host/matrix containing nanomaterials
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/29 : Coated or structually defined flake, particle, cell, strand, strand portion, rod, filament, macroscopic fiber or mass thereof
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/2982 : Particulate matter [e.g., sphere, flake, etc.]

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. An applicator liquid comprising:

a liquid medium containing a distribution of purified nanotubes wherein the liquid medium is selected from the group consisting of ethyl lactate, dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO), monomethyl ether, 4-methyl-2 pentanone, N-ethylpyrrolidone (NMP), t-butyl alcohol, methoxy propanol, propylene glycol, ethylene glycol, gamma butyrolactone, benzyl benzoate, salicyladehyde, tetramethyl ammonium hydroxide and esters of alpha-hydroxy carboxylic acids,

wherein the purified nanotubes remain separate from one another without precipitation or flocculation for a time sufficient to apply the applicator liquid to a surface,

wherein the purified nanotubes are free of functionalization that deplete π

electrons so that desired electrical properties of the nanotubes are maintained,

wherein the applicator liquid comprises less than about 1×

10¹⁸ atoms/cm³ of metallic impurities,

wherein the applicator liquid is free of surfactants and polymers, and

wherein the applicator liquid is free of particle impurities having a diameter of greater than about 500 nm wherein the purified nanotubes are homogenously distributed in the liquid medium.

2. The applicator liquid of claim 1, wherein the applicator liquid is free of particle impurities having a diameter of greater than about 300 nm.

3. The applicator liquid of claim 1, wherein the applicator liquid is free of particle impurities having a diameter of greater than about 100 nm.

4. The applicator liquid of claim 1, wherein the applicator liquid is free of particle impurities having a diameter of greater than about 45 nm.

5. The applicator liquid of claim 1, wherein the applicator liquid comprises less than about 15×

10¹⁰ atoms/cm³ of metallic impurities.

6. The applicator liquid of claim 1, wherein the applicator liquid comprises less than about 1×

10¹⁸ atoms/cm³ of transition metal impurities.

7. The applicator liquid of claim 1, wherein the applicator liquid comprises less than about 15×

10¹⁰ atoms/cm³ of transition metal impurities.

8. The applicator liquid of claim 1, wherein the applicator liquid comprises less than about 1×

10¹⁸ atoms/cm³ of heavy metal impurities.

9. The applicator liquid of claim 1, wherein the applicator liquid comprises less than about 15×

10¹⁰ atoms/cm³ of heavy metal impurities.

10. The applicator liquid of claim 1, wherein the applicator liquid comprises less than about 10×

10¹⁷ atoms/cm³ of group I and group II element impurities.

11. The applicator liquid of claim 1, wherein the applicator liquid comprises less than about 15×

10¹⁰ atoms/cm³ of group I and group II element impurities.

12. The applicator liquid of claim 1, wherein the liquid medium is a non-halogen solvent.

13. The applicator liquid of claim 1, wherein the liquid medium is a non-aqueous solvent.

14. The applicator liquid of claim 1, wherein the liquid medium is selected for compatibility with an electronics manufacturing process.

15. The applicator liquid of claim 1, wherein the liquid medium is ethyl lactate.

16. The applicator liquid of claim 1, wherein the purified nanotubes comprise conductive nanotubes.

17. The applicator liquid of claim 1, wherein the purified nanotubes are single-walled nanotubes.