Coated fullerenes, compositions and dielectrics made therefrom

• US 9,290,665 B2
• Filed: 10/11/2011
• Issued: 03/22/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 11/20/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Natcore Technology, Inc., Rice University
• Original Assignee: Natcore Technology, Inc., Rice University
• Inventors: Barron, Andrew R., Flood, Dennis J., Whitsitt, Elizabeth
• Primary Examiner(s): VETERE, ROBERT A
• Application Number:
  US13/270,985
• Publication Number:
  US 20120119162A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,624 Days
• Field of Search: 427/213, 252/510
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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 2202/06 Multi-walled nanotubes
• CPC Class Codes: C01B 2202/28 Solid content in solvents
• CPC Class Codes: C01B 32/156 After-treatment
• CPC Class Codes: C01B 32/168 After-treatment
• CPC Class Codes: C01B 32/174 Derivatisation; Solubilisation; Dispersion in solvents
• CPC Class Codes: C01P 2002/54 one element only
• CPC Class Codes: C01P 2004/03 obtained by SEM
• CPC Class Codes: C01P 2004/04 obtained by TEM, STEM, STM or AFM
• CPC Class Codes: C01P 2004/12 with a cylindrical shape
• CPC Class Codes: C01P 2004/13 Nanotubes
• CPC Class Codes: C01P 2004/32 Spheres
• CPC Class Codes: C01P 2004/84 one phase coated with the other
• CPC Class Codes: C01P 2006/40 Electric properties
• CPC Class Codes: C04B 2235/5288 Carbon nanotubes
• CPC Class Codes: C04B 35/62807 Silica or silicates
• CPC Class Codes: C08K 9/02 Ingredients treated with inorganic substances
• CPC Class Codes: C09C 1/3045 : Treatment with inorganic compounds
• CPC Class Codes: C09C 1/44 : Carbon
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 21/76838 : characterised by the formation and the after-treatment of the conductors etching for patterning the conductors H01L21/3213
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 23/53276 : containing carbon, e.g. fullerenes superconducting fullerenes H10N60/853
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2924/00 : Indexing scheme for arrangements or methods for connecting or disconnecting semiconductor or solid-state bodies as covered by H01L24/00
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2924/0002 : Not covered by any one of groups H01L24/00, H01L24/00 and H01L2224/00
• CPC Class Codes: H10K 85/211 : Fullerenes, e.g. C60
• CPC Class Codes: H10K 85/221 : Carbon nanotubes
• CPC Class Codes: H10K 85/615 : Polycyclic condensed aromatic hydrocarbons, e.g. anthracene
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/30 : Self-sustaining carbon mass or layer with impregnant or other layer

Abstract

The present invention relates to coated fullerenes comprising a layer of at least one inorganic material covering at least a portion of at least one surface of a fullerene and methods for making. The present invention further relates to composites comprising the coated fullerenes of the present invention and further comprising polymers, ceramics, and/or inorganic oxides. A coated fullerene interconnect device where at least two fullerenes are contacting each other to form a spontaneous interconnect is also disclosed as well as methods of making. In addition, dielectric films comprising the coated fullerenes of the present invention and methods of making are further disclosed.

Claims

1. A coated fullerene comprising:

an individual fullerenol,

wherein the individual fullerenol is a hydroxylated fullerene, wherein the fullerene is selected from the group consisting of C₆₀, C₇₂ , C₈₄, C₉₆, C₁₀₈, and C₁₂₀; and

a uniform layer of at least one inorganic oxide material covering at least one hemisphere of the individual fullerenol,

wherein the uniform layer is at least uniform in thickness, and

wherein the inorganic oxide material comprises silica.

2. The coated fullerene according to claim 1, wherein the fullerene is C₆₀.

3. The coated fullerene according to claim 1, wherein the fullerene is doped with at least one type of metal.

4. The coated fullerene according to claim 1, wherein the fullerene is handled in the solid state without undergoing any substantial change in electrical or mechanical properties.

5. The coated fullerene according to claim 1, wherein the coated fullerenes show bands in the Raman spectrum characteristic of individual fullerenes.

6. The coated fullerene according to claim 5, wherein the coated fullerenes show no change in fluorescence until the thickness of the coating is sufficient to cause light scattering.

7. The coated fullerene according to claim 1, wherein the coated fullerene is used in the interlayer dielectric (ILD) or intermetal dielectric (IMD) of a silicon transistor chip.

8. The coated fullerene according to claim 1, wherein the uniform layer of the at least one inorganic oxide material completely covers the fullerene.

9. A composite comprising a coated fullerene comprising:

an individual fullerenol,

wherein the individual fullerenol is a hydroxylated fullerene, wherein the fullerene is selected from the group consisting of C₆₀, C₇₂, C₈₄, C₉₆, C₁₀₈, and C₁₂₀;

a uniform layer of at least one inorganic oxide material covering at least one hemisphere of the individual fullerenol,

wherein the uniform layer is at least uniform in thickness, and

wherein the inorganic oxide material comprises silica; and

at least one composite matrix selected from the group consisting of polymers, ceramics, inorganic oxides, and combinations thereof.

10. The composite according to claim 9, wherein the fullerene is C₆₀.

11. The composite of claim 9, wherein the composite is used in a thin film.

12. The coated fullerene according to claim 9, wherein the uniform layer of the at least one inorganic oxide material completely covers the fullerene.