Bulk preparation of holey graphene via controlled catalytic oxidation

US9120677B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignees

• National Institute of Aerospace Associates · US
• THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AS REPRESENTED BY THE ADMINISTRATION OF NASA. · US

Inventors

• Kent A. Watson · West Point, US
• Yi Lin · New Taipei, TW
• Sayata Ghose · Sammamish, US
• John W. Connell · Newport News, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Apr 1, 2013
• Grant date: Sep 1, 2015
• Expiry date: Apr 1, 2033

Classification

• Technology area (CPC D): Textiles; Paper
• CPC primary: D01F9/12
• WIPO field: Materials, metallurgy
• WIPO sector: Chemistry

Abstract

A scalable method allows preparation of bulk quantities of holey carbon allotropes with holes ranging from a few to over 100 nm in diameter. Carbon oxidation catalyst nanoparticles are first deposited onto a carbon allotrope surface in a facile, controllable, and solvent-free process. The catalyst-loaded carbons are then subjected to thermal treatment in air. The carbons in contact with the carbon oxidation catalyst nanoparticles are selectively oxidized into gaseous byproducts such as CO or CO2, leaving the surface with holes. The catalyst is then removed via refluxing in diluted nitric acid to obtain the final holey carbon allotropes. The average size of the holes correlates strongly with the size of the catalyst nanoparticles and is controlled by adjusting the catalyst precursor concentration. The temperature and time of the air oxidation step, and the catalyst removal treatment conditions, strongly affect the morphology of the holes.