Method for growing single-wall carbon nanotubes utlizing seed molecules

US6949237B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• William Marsh Rice University · US

Inventors

• Richard E. Smalley · Houston, US
• Daniel T. Colbert · Houston, US
• Hongjie Dai · Sunnyvale, US
• Jie Liu · Houston, US
• Andrew G. Rinzler · Newberry, US
• Jason H. Hafner · Houston, US
• Kenneth A. Smith · Houston, US
• Ting Guo · Davis, US
• Pavel Nikolaev · Houston, US
• Andreas Thess · Aspenhausiedlung, DE

Key dates

• Filing date: Dec 28, 2001
• Grant date: Sep 27, 2005
• Expiry date: May 13, 2023

Classification

• Technology area (CPC Y): Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
• CPC primary: Y10T428/30
• WIPO field: Chemical engineering
• WIPO sector: Chemistry

Abstract

This invention relates generally to a method for growing single-wall carbon nanotube (SWNT) from seed molecules. The supported or unsupported SWNT seed materials can be combined with a suitable growth catalyst by opening SWNT molecule ends and depositing a metal atom cluster. In one embodiment, a suspension of seed particles containing attached catalysts is injected into an evaporation zone to provide an entrained reactive nanoparticle. A carbonaceous feedstock gas is then introduced into the nanoparticle stream under conditions to grow single-wall carbon nanotubes. Recovery of the product produced can be done by filtration, centrifugation and the like.