Directed flow method and system for bulk separation of single-walled tubular fullerenes based on helicity

US7347981B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignees

• The Penn State Research Foundation · US
• The MITRE Corporation · US

Inventors

• Vincent Henry Crespi · Darien, US
• Aleksey N. Kolmogorov · State College, US
• James C. Ellenbogen · McLean, US
• Monika H. Schleier-Smith · McLean, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Sep 25, 2003
• Grant date: Mar 25, 2008
• Expiry date: Jun 2, 2024

Classification

• Technology area (CPC Y): Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
• CPC primary: Y10S977/845
• WIPO field: Materials, metallurgy
• WIPO sector: Chemistry

Abstract

A method for bulk separation of single-walled tubular fullerenes (100) based on helicity is provided wherein a solution or suspension of the single-walled tubular fullerenes (100) is flowed onto a crystalline or highly oriented substrate (30). The single-walled tubular fullerenes (100) that flow onto the substrate (30) have a respective longitudinal axis that is aligned with the flow direction (105). The direction of flow (105) is oriented at a predetermined angle with respect to a lattice axis (24) of the substrate (30) for energetically favoring adsorption of a respective plurality of single-walled fullerenes (100) having a tubular contour and a selected helicity. Subsequently, the adsorbed single-walled tubular fullerenes (100) of the selected chirality are removed from the substrate (30).