Fluorescent single walled nanotube/silica composite materials

US8395123B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• LOS ALAMOS NATIONAL SECURITY, LLC · US

Inventors

• Andrew M. Dattelbaum · Los Alamos, US
• Gautam Gupta · Los Alamos, US
• Juan G. Duque · Los Alamos, US
• Stephen K. Doorn · Los Alamos, US
• Christopher E. Hamilton · Los Alamos, US
• Kimberly A. DeFriend Obrey · Los Alamos, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Sep 22, 2010
• Grant date: Mar 12, 2013
• Expiry date: Sep 22, 2030

Classification

• Technology area (CPC C): Chemistry; Metallurgy
• CPC primary: C09K11/65
• WIPO field: Micro-structural and nano-technology
• WIPO sector: Chemistry

Abstract

Fluorescent composites of surfactant-wrapped single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWNTs) were prepared by exposing suspensions of surfactant-wrapped carbon nanotubes to tetramethylorthosilicate (TMOS) vapor. Sodium deoxycholate (DOC) and sodium dodecylsulphate (SDS) were the surfactants. No loss in emission intensity was observed when the suspension of DOC-wrapped SWNTs were exposed to the TMOS vapors, but about a 50% decrease in the emission signal was observed from the SDS-wrapped SWNTs nanotubes. The decrease in emission was minimal by buffering the SDS/SWNT suspension prior to forming the composite. Fluorescent xerogels were prepared by adding glycerol to the SWNT suspensions prior to TMOS vapor exposure, followed by drying the gels. Fluorescent aerogels were prepared by replacing water in the gels with methanol and then exposing them to supercritical fluid drying conditions. The aerogels can be used for gas sensing.