Patent · US Expired

Method for cutting single-wall carbon nanotubes through fluorination

US7029646B2 · kind B2 · utility

42Cited by
0References
30Claims
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Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateApr 8, 2003
Grant dateApr 18, 2006
Priority date
Expiry dateJul 23, 2024

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC C)Chemistry; Metallurgy
  • CPC primaryC01B2202/02
  • WIPO fieldMaterials, metallurgy
  • WIPO sectorChemistry

Abstract

A method for cutting single-wall carbon nanotubes involves partially fluorinating single-wall carbon nanotubes and pyrolyzing the partially fluorinated nanotubes in an inert atmosphere or vacuum up to about 1000° C. The nanotubes are optionally purified before cutting. The partial fluorination involves fluorinating the nanotubes to a carbon-fluorine stoichiometry of CFx, where x is up to about 0.3. The invention also relates to the derivatization of fluorinated and cut single-wall carbon nanotubes. The single-wall carbon nanotubes can be cut to any length depending on the fluorination and pyrolysis conditions. Short nanotubes are useful in various applications, such as field emitters for flat panel displays and as “seeds” for further nanotube growth.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.