Spin-coatable liquid for formation of high purity nanotube films

• US 8,628,692 B2
• Filed: 05/25/2012
• Issued: 01/14/2014
• 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): Nguyen, Tri V
• Application Number:
  US13/480,615
• Publication Number:
  US 20130009109A1
• Time in Patent Office: 599 Days
• Field of Search: 252500-5181, 257/40, 428/357, 428/402, 977/734, 977/742, 977/750, 977/752, 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 said purified nanotubes are purified with a nitric acid reflux treatment,

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

wherein said purified nanotubes are free of functionalization that deplete π

electrons so that desired electrical properties of said purified nanotubes are maintained;

wherein said liquid medium is an electronics grade non-halogen solvent;

wherein said applicator liquid is free of surfactants and polymers.

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 said applicator liquid comprises less than about 10×

10¹⁸ 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 metallic impurities.

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

10¹⁸ atoms/cm³ of metallic impurities.

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

10¹⁸ atoms/cm³ of metallic impurities.

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

10¹⁰ atoms/cm³ of transition metal impurities.

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

10¹⁸ atoms/cm³ of heavy metal impurities.

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

10¹⁰ atoms/cm³ of heavy metal impurities.

12. 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.

13. 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.

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 comprises 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.

18. The applicator liquid of claim 1 wherein said applicator liquid is free of particle impurities having a diameter of greater than about 500 nm.