US5346683A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Uncapped and thinned carbon nanotubes and process
Assignee: Gas Technology Institute
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Filing: 1993-03-26
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Granted: 1994-09-13
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Expires: 2013-03-26
Abstract
Abstract Uncapped and thinned carbon nanotubes are produced by reaction with a flowing reactant gas capable of reaction selectively with carbon atoms in the capped region of nanotubes. The uncapped and thinned nanotubes provide open compartments for insertion of chemicals and exhibit enhanced surface area with modified physical and chemical properties.
Inventors
- 👤 Malcolm L. H. Green
- 👤 Shik C. Tsang
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-29 04:14
CPC Classifications
D; D01; D01F; D01F11/00; D01F11/10; D01F11/12; D01F11/123; B; B82; B82Y; B82Y30/00; B82Y40/00; C; C01; C01B; C01B32/00; C01B32/15; C01B32/158; C01B32/16; C01B32/168; D01F11/121; D01F11/122; D01F11/129; D01F9/00; D01F9/08; D01F9/12; C01B2202/00; C01B2202/20; C01B2202/36; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S423/00; Y10S423/39; Y10S423/40; Y10S977/00; Y10S977/84; Y10S977/842; Y10S977/848
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 24
Claim 1
Independent Claim
70 words
A process for uncapping carbon nanotubes capped at their ends comprising: providing carbon nanotubes capped at their ends; contacting said carbon nanotubes capped at their ends with a reactant gas stream comprising a reactant gas capable of reacting with carbon in a capped region of said ends of said carbon nanotubes capped at their ends to form a gaseous product thereby opening at least one end of said carbon nanotube.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
70 words
A process for uncapping carbon nanotubes capped at their ends comprising: providing carbon nanotubes capped at their ends; contacting said carbon nanotubes capped at their ends with a reactant gas stream comprising a reactant gas capable of reacting with carbon in a capped region of said ends of said carbon nanotubes capped at their ends to form a gaseous product thereby opening at least one end of said carbon nanotube.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
23 words
A process according to claim 1 wherein outer carbon layers of said nanotubes are reacted with said reactant gas thereby thinning said tubes.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
23 words
A process according to claim 1 wherein said contacting is carried out at pressures of about 10 -3 torr to about 200 bar.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
22 words
A process according to claim 1 wherein said contacting is carried out at a pressure of about 1 to about 20 bar.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
22 words
A process according to claim 1 wherein said contacting is carried out at a temperature of about -100° to about 2000° C.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
22 words
A process according to claim 1 wherein said contacting is carried out at a temperature of about 500° to about 1000° C.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
30 words
A process according to claim 1 wherein said reactant gas is flowed over said carbon nanotubes in a closed vessel and said gaseous product is removed from said closed vessel.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
49 words
A process according to claim 1 wherein said reactant gas is selected from the group consisting of CO 2 , O 2 , O 3 , H 2 O, NO, NO 2 , N 2 O, SO 2 , H 2 , halogen, oxide of phosphorous, and mixtures thereof.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
32 words
A process according to claim 1 wherein said reactant gas is selected from the group consisting of CO 2 . N 2 O, O 2 , H 2 O and mixtures thereof.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
14 words
A process according to claim 1 wherein said reactant gas comprises CO 2 .
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
20 words
A process according to claim 1 wherein said reactant gas comprises a mixture of CO 2 and O 2 .
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
17 words
A process according to claim 1 wherein said reactant gas comprises at least one oxide of nitrogen.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
14 words
A process according to claims 1 wherein said reactant gas comprises O 2 .
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
17 words
A process according to claim 1 wherein said reactant gas comprises at least one oxide of sulfur.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
18 words
A process according to claim 1 wherein said reactant gas comprises at least one source of reactive halogen.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
14 words
A process according to claim 1 wherein said reactant gas comprises H 2 .
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
14 words
A process according to claim 1 wherein said reactant gas comprises O 3 .
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
12 words
A process according to claim 1 wherein said reactant gas comprises CO.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
33 words
A process according to claim 1 wherein said reactant gas stream comprises a diluent or carrier gas in volume of said reactant gas/said diluent or carrier gas of about 1/1 to about 1/20.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
30 words
A process according to claim 19 wherein said diluent or carrier gas is selected from the group consisting of N 2 , Ne, Ar, He, Kr, Xe, and mixtures thereof.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
22 words
A process according to claim 1 wherein said reactant gas stream comprises another gas or vapor which enhances said reacting with carbon.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
45 words
Carbon nanotubes comprising: fillable, hollow carbon tubes, formed by a plurality of carbon tube layers, said tubes being open on at least one end and having an area adjacent said at least one open end formed by fewer than said plurality of carbon tube layers.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
45 words
Carbon nanotubes comprising: fillable, hollow carbon tubes, formed by a plurality of carbon tube layers, said tubes being open on at least one end and having an area adjacent said at least one open end formed by fewer than said plurality of carbon tube layers.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US5094906A
Cited
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