Spin-coatable liquid for formation of high purity nanotube films

• US 20080179571A1
• Filed: 07/25/2007
• Published: 07/31/2008
• 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
• Granted Patent: US 8,187,502 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• 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. A spin-coatable liquid for formation of a nanotube film, comprising:

a liquid medium containing a distribution of nanotubes, wherein the nanotubes remain separate from one another without precipitation or flocculation for a time sufficient to apply the spin-coatable liquid to a surface, and wherein the spin-coatable liquid is substantially free of particle impurities having a diameter of greater than about 500 nm.

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

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

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

5. The spin-coatable liquid of claim 1, wherein the spin-coatable liquid comprises less than about 1×

10¹⁸ atoms/cm³ of metallic impurities.

6. The spin-coatable liquid of claim 1, wherein the spin-coatable liquid comprises less than about 15×

10¹⁰ atoms/cm³ of metallic impurities.

7. The spin-coatable liquid of claim 1, wherein the spin-coatable liquid comprises less than about 1×

10¹⁸ atoms/cm³ of transition metal impurities.

8. The spin-coatable liquid of claim 1, wherein the spin-coatable liquid comprises less than about 15×

10¹⁰ atoms/cm³ of transition metal impurities.

9. The spin-coatable liquid of claim 1, wherein the spin-coatable liquid comprises less than about 1×

10¹⁸ atoms/cm³ of heavy metal impurities.

10. The spin-coatable liquid of claim 1, wherein the spin-coatable liquid comprises less than about 15×

10¹⁰ atoms/cm³ of heavy metal impurities.

11. The spin-coatable liquid of claim 1, wherein the spin-coatable liquid comprises less than about 10×

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

12. The spin-coatable liquid of claim 1, wherein the spin-coatable liquid comprises less than about 15×

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

13. The spin-coatable liquid of claim 1, wherein the liquid medium is a non-halogen solvent.

14. The spin-coatable liquid of claim 1, wherein the liquid medium is a non-aqueous solvent.

15. The spin-coatable liquid of claim 1, wherein the liquid medium is selected for compatibility with an electronics manufacturing process.

16. The spin-coatable liquid of claim 1, wherein the liquid medium comprises ethyl lactate.

17. The spin-coatable liquid of claim 1, wherein the liquid medium is surfactant-free.

18. The spin-coatable liquid of claim 1, wherein the nanotubes comprise conductive nanotubes.

19. The spin-coatable liquid of claim 1, wherein the nanotubes are single-walled nanotubes.