Purification of carbon nanotubes via selective heating

US9825229B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignees

• The Board of Trustees of the University of Illinois · US
• Northwestern University · US
• The University of Miami · US

Inventors

• John A. Rogers · Champaign, US
• William L. Wilson · Champaign, US
• Sung Hun Jin · Urbana, US
• Simon N. Dunham · Atlanta, US
• Xu Xie · Urbana, US
• Ahmad Ehteshamul Islam · Beavercreek, US
• Frank Du · Urbana, US
• Yonggang Huang · Glencoe, US
• Jizhou Song · Miami, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Apr 3, 2014
• Grant date: Nov 21, 2017
• Expiry date: Apr 15, 2034

Classification

• Technology area (CPC Y): Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
• CPC primary: Y02E60/10
• WIPO field: Measurement
• WIPO sector: Instruments

Abstract

The present invention provides methods for purifying a layer of carbon nanotubes comprising providing a precursor layer of substantially aligned carbon nanotubes supported by a substrate, wherein the precursor layer comprises a mixture of first carbon nanotubes and second carbon nanotubes; selectively heating the first carbon nanotubes; and separating the first carbon nanotubes from the second carbon nanotubes, thereby generating a purified layer of carbon nanotubes. Devices benefiting from enhanced electrical properties enabled by the purified layer of carbon nanotubes are also described.