Preparation of metal nanowire decorated carbon allotropes

US8703235B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• The United States of America as represented by the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration · US

Inventors

• Robin E. Southward · Stanwood, US
• Donavon Mark Delozier · Newport News, US
• Kent A. Watson · West Point, US
• Joseph G. Smith, Jr. · Smithfield, US
• Sayata Ghose · Sammamish, US
• John W. Connell · Newport News, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Apr 8, 2011
• Grant date: Apr 22, 2014
• Expiry date: Aug 7, 2031

Classification

• Technology area (CPC C): Chemistry; Metallurgy
• CPC primary: C22C2026/002
• WIPO field: Materials, metallurgy
• WIPO sector: Chemistry

Abstract

In the method of embodiments of the invention, the metal seeded carbon allotropes are reacted in solution forming zero valent metallic nanowires at the seeded sites. A polymeric passivating reagent, which selects for anisotropic growth is also used in the reaction to facilitate nanowire formation. The resulting structure resembles a porcupine, where carbon allotropes have metallic wires of nanometer dimensions that emanate from the seed sites on the carbon allotrope. These sites are populated by nanowires having approximately the same diameter as the starting nanoparticle diameter.