US6183714B1 — Method of making ropes of single-wall carbon nano…

Claim 1

Independent Claim 92 words

A method of making single-wall carbon nanotubes which comprises: (a) making a vapor comprising carbon and one or more Group VIII transition metals by vaporizing a mixture of carbon and one or more Group VIII transition metals with a first laser pulse; (b) condensing the vapor to form a single-wall carbon nanotube having a live end; and (c) supplying carbon vapor to the live end of the single-wall carbon nanotube while maintaining the live end of the single-wall carbon nanotube in an annealing zone, wherein ropes of single-wall carbon nanotubes are formed.

Claim 2

Independent Claim 92 words

A method of making single-wall carbon nanotubes which comprises: (a) making a vapor comprising carbon and one or more Group VIII transition metals by vaporizing a mixture of carbon and one or more Group VIII transition metals with a first laser pulse; (b) condensing the vapor to form a single-wall carbon nanotube having a live end; and (c) supplying carbon vapor to the live end of the single-wall carbon nanotube while maintaining the live end of the single-wall carbon nanotube in an annealing zone, wherein ropes of single-wall carbon nanotubes are formed.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 28 words

A method in accordance with claim 1 wherein the one or more Group VIII transition metals are selected from the group consisting of cobalt, ruthenium, nickel and platinum.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 68 words

A method in accordance with claim 1 wherein the step of making a vapor comprising carbon and one or more Group VIII transition metals further comprises a second laser pulse timed to arrive after the finish of the first pulse and before the vapor made by the first laser pulse has dissipated and focused so that the energy from the second laser pulse is absorbed by the vapor.

Claim 5

Independent Claim 63 words

A method of making single-wall carbon nanotubes which comprises: vaporizing carbon and one or more Group VIII transition metals with a laser, transporting the vapor so formed through an annealing zone, condensing the vapor, and recovering single-wall carbon nanotubes from the material that condenses from the vapor, wherein at least a portion of said single-wall carbon nanotubes are in the form of ropes.

Claim 6

Independent Claim 63 words

A method of making single-wall carbon nanotubes which comprises: vaporizing carbon and one or more Group VIII transition metals with a laser, transporting the vapor so formed through an annealing zone, condensing the vapor, and recovering single-wall carbon nanotubes from the material that condenses from the vapor, wherein at least a portion of said single-wall carbon nanotubes are in the form of ropes.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 29 words

A method in accordance with claim 4 wherein the one or more Group VIII transition metals are selected from the group consisting of iron, cobalt, ruthenium, nickel and platinum.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 36 words

A method in accordance with claim 5 wherein the carbon and one or more Group VIII transition metals are mixed together to form a target that is struck by a laser beam to produce the vapor.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 17 words

A method in accordance with claim 6 wherein the carbon target is maintained in an annealing zone.

Claim 10

Independent Claim 117 words

A method of making carbon nanotubes which comprises: (a) making a vapor comprising carbon by using a first laser pulse to ablate material from a target comprising carbon and then using a second laser pulse timed to arrive at the target after the end of the first laser pulse and before the material ablated by the first laser pulse has dissipated and focused so that the energy from the second laser pulse is absorbed by the material ablated from the target by the first laser pulse to form a vapor; and (b) condensing the vapor to form carbon nanotubes, wherein at least a portion of said carbon nanotubes are single-wall carbon nanotubes in the form of ropes.

Claim 11

Independent Claim 117 words

A method of making carbon nanotubes which comprises: (a) making a vapor comprising carbon by using a first laser pulse to ablate material from a target comprising carbon and then using a second laser pulse timed to arrive at the target after the end of the first laser pulse and before the material ablated by the first laser pulse has dissipated and focused so that the energy from the second laser pulse is absorbed by the material ablated from the target by the first laser pulse to form a vapor; and (b) condensing the vapor to form carbon nanotubes, wherein at least a portion of said carbon nanotubes are single-wall carbon nanotubes in the form of ropes.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 37 words

A method in accordance with claim 8 wherein the second laser pulse arrives at the target within a delay of from about 20 nanoseconds (ns) to about 60 ns after the end of the first laser beam.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 19 words

A method in accordance with claim 9 wherein the target further comprises one or more Group VIII transition metals.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 29 words

A method in accordance with claim 10 wherein the one or more Group VIII transition metals are selected from the group consisting of iron, cobalt, ruthenium, nickel, and platinum.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 21 words

A method in accordance with claim 11 wherein the vapor is condensed to form single-wall carbon nanotubes having a live end.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 36 words

A method in accordance with claim 12 which further comprises maintaining the live end of the single-wall carbon nanotube in an annealing zone and supplying carbon vapor to the live end of the single-wall carbon nanotube.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 19 words

A method in accordance with claim 13 wherein the delay is from about 40 ns to about 50 ns.

Claim 18

Independent Claim 58 words

A method of making ropes of metallic single-wall carbon nanotubes comprising: (a) vaporizing carbon and one or more Group VIII transition metals with a vaporization means, (b) transporting the vapor so formed through an annealing zone, (c) condensing the vapor; and (d) recovering said ropes of metallic single-wall carbon nanotubes from the material that condenses from the vapor.

Claim 19

Independent Claim 58 words

A method of making ropes of metallic single-wall carbon nanotubes comprising: (a) vaporizing carbon and one or more Group VIII transition metals with a vaporization means, (b) transporting the vapor so formed through an annealing zone, (c) condensing the vapor; and (d) recovering said ropes of metallic single-wall carbon nanotubes from the material that condenses from the vapor.

Claim 20

Dependent Claim 28 words

A method in accordance with claim 15 wherein the one or more Group VIII transition metal are selected from the group of iron, cobalt, ruthenium, nickel and platinum.

Claim 21

Dependent Claim 36 words

A method in accordance with claim 15 wherein the carbon and one or more Group VIII transition metals are mixed together to form a target that is vaporized by said vaporization means to produce the vapor.

Claim 22

Dependent Claim 17 words

A method in accordance with claim 17 wherein the carbon target is maintained in an annealing zone.

Claim 23

Dependent Claim 23 words

A method in accordance with claim 15 wherein the average diameter of all single-wall carbon nanotubes in the rope is 13.8 Å±0.3 Å.

Claim 24

Dependent Claim 23 words

A method in accordance with claim 15 wherein the average diameter of all single-wall carbon nanotubes in the rope is 13.8 Å±0.2 Å.

Claim 25

Dependent Claim 24 words

A method in accordance with claim 15 wherein the ropes are in the form of a 2-D triangular with lattice constant of 17 Å.

Claim 26

Independent Claim 92 words

A method of making single-wall carbon nanotubes which comprises: (a) making a first vapor comprising carbon and one or more Group VIII transition metals by vaporizing a mixture of carbon and one or more Group VIII transition metals with a first vaporization means; (b) condensing the vapor to form a single-wall carbon nanotube having a live end; (c) supplying carbon vapor to the live end of the single-wall carbon nanotube while maintaining the live end of the single-wall carbon nanotube in an annealing zone, wherein ropes of single-wall carbon nanotubes are formed.

Claim 27

Independent Claim 92 words

A method of making single-wall carbon nanotubes which comprises: (a) making a first vapor comprising carbon and one or more Group VIII transition metals by vaporizing a mixture of carbon and one or more Group VIII transition metals with a first vaporization means; (b) condensing the vapor to form a single-wall carbon nanotube having a live end; (c) supplying carbon vapor to the live end of the single-wall carbon nanotube while maintaining the live end of the single-wall carbon nanotube in an annealing zone, wherein ropes of single-wall carbon nanotubes are formed.

Claim 28

Dependent Claim 28 words

A method in accordance with claim 22 wherein the one or more Group VIII transition metals are selected from the group consisting of cobalt, ruthenium, nickel and platinum.

Claim 29

Dependent Claim 60 words

A method in accordance with claim 22 wherein the step of making a vapor comprising carbon and one or more Group VIII transition metals further comprises a second vaporization step timed after the making of said first vapor and before said first vapor has dissipated, resulting in the energy from the second vaporization step being absorbed by said first vapor.

Claim 30

Independent Claim 135 words

A method of making carbon nanotubes which comprises: (a) making a vapor comprising carbon by using a first vaporization means to perform a first vaporization to ablate material from a target comprising carbon and a Group VIII transition metal and then using a second vaporization means to perform a second vaporization, said second vaporization timed to ablate the target after the end of the first vaporization and before the material ablated by the first vaporization has dissipated and said second vaporization means focused so that the energy from the second vaporization is absorbed by the material ablated from the target by the first vaporization to form a vapor; and (b) condensing the vapor to form carbon nanotubes, wherein at least a portion of said carbon nanotubes are single-wall carbon nanotubes in the form of ropes.

Claim 31

Independent Claim 135 words

A method of making carbon nanotubes which comprises: (a) making a vapor comprising carbon by using a first vaporization means to perform a first vaporization to ablate material from a target comprising carbon and a Group VIII transition metal and then using a second vaporization means to perform a second vaporization, said second vaporization timed to ablate the target after the end of the first vaporization and before the material ablated by the first vaporization has dissipated and said second vaporization means focused so that the energy from the second vaporization is absorbed by the material ablated from the target by the first vaporization to form a vapor; and (b) condensing the vapor to form carbon nanotubes, wherein at least a portion of said carbon nanotubes are single-wall carbon nanotubes in the form of ropes.

Claim 32

Dependent Claim 35 words

A method in accordance with claim 25 wherein the second vaporization arrives at the target within a delay of from about 20 nanoseconds (ns) to about 60 ns after the end of the first vaporization.

Claim 33

Dependent Claim 25 words

A method in accordance with claim 25 wherein the delay between said first vaporization and second vaporization is about 40 nanoseconds to about 50 nanoseconds.

Claim 34

Dependent Claim 19 words

A method in accordance with claim 25 wherein the target further comprises one or more Group VIII transition metals.

Claim 35

Dependent Claim 21 words

A method in accordance with claim 25 wherein the vapor is condensed to form single-wall carbon nanotubes having a live end.

Claim 36

Dependent Claim 38 words

A method in accordance with claim 29 which further comprises maintaining the live end of the single-wall carbon nanotube in an annealing zone and supplying a carbon source vapor to the live end of the single-wall carbon nanotube.

Claim 37

Dependent Claim 28 words

A method in accordance with claim 29 wherein said carbon source is selected from the group consisting of graphite particles, fullerene particles, carbon vapor, carbon monoxide, and hydrocarbons.

Claim 38

Independent Claim 55 words

A method in accordance with any one of claims 2 , 7 , 13 , 15 , 22 , or 30 wherein the annealing zone is maintained at a temperature of from about 1000° C. to about 1400° C.; and the pressure in the annealing zone is maintained at about 100 to about 800 Torr.

Claim 39

Independent Claim 49 words

A method in accordance with any one of claims 2 , 7 , 13 , 15 , 22 , or 30 wherein the annealing zone is maintained in an atmosphere comprising carbon, and a gas selected from the group consisting of argon, neon, helium, carbon monoxide and mixtures thereof.

Claim 40

Independent Claim 44 words

A method in accordance with any one of claims 2 , 7 , 15 , or 30 wherein the annealing zone atmosphere consists essentially of carbon, and one or more transition metals selected from the group consisting of iron, cobalt, ruthenium, nickel, and platinum.

Claim 41

Independent Claim 45 words

A method in accordance with any one of claims 13 or 22 wherein the target comprises about 0.1 atom percent to about 10 atom percent of one or more Group VIII transition metals selected from the group consisting of iron, cobalt, ruthenium, nickel and platinum.

Claim 42

Dependent Claim 12 words

A method in accordance with claim 15 wherein said rope conducts electricity.

Claim 43

Dependent Claim 27 words

A method in accordance with claim 15 wherein said single-wall nanotube rope has resistivity of about 0.34 to about 1.0 micro ohms per meter at 27° C.

Claim 44

Independent Claim 36 words

A method in accordance with any one of claims 1 , 4 , 8 , 15 , or 22 , wherein at least 10% of said single-wall carbon nanotubes are of the armchair (n, n) form.

Claim 45

Dependent Claim 16 words

A method in accordance with claim 38 wherein said nanotubes are of the (10, 10) form.

Claim 46

Independent Claim 36 words

A method in accordance with any one of claims 1 , 4 , 8 , 15 , or 22 , wherein at least 50% of said single-wall carbon nanotubes are of the armchair (n, n) form.

Claim 47

Dependent Claim 16 words

A method in accordance with claim 40 wherein said nanotubes are of the (10, 10) form.

Claim 48

Independent Claim 36 words

A method in accordance with any one of claims 1 , 4 , 8 , 15 , or 22 , wherein at least 75% of said single-wall carbon nanotubes are of the armchair (n, n) form.

Claim 49

Dependent Claim 16 words

A method in accordance with claim 42 wherein said nanotubes are of the (10, 10) form.

Claim 50

Independent Claim 36 words

A method in accordance with any one of claims 1 , 4 , 8 , 15 , or 22 , wherein at least 90% of said single-wall carbon nanotubes are of the armchair (n, n) form.

Claim 51

Dependent Claim 16 words

A method in accordance with claim 44 wherein said nanotubes are of the (10, 10) form.

Claim 52

Dependent Claim 20 words

A method in accordance with claim 1 , wherein the carbon vapor of step (c) is derived from a hydrocarbon.

Claim 53

Independent Claim 26 words

The method of any one of claims 1 , 15 or 22 , wherein the vapor of step (a) contains at least two Group VIII metals.

Claim 54

Dependent Claim 16 words

The method of claim 47 , wherein the two Group VIII metals are cobalt and nickel.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	2004-02-06	2004-08-07	2005-02-06	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	2008-02-06	2008-08-07	2009-02-06	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	2012-02-06	2012-08-07	2013-02-06	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Method of making ropes of single-wall carbon nanotubes

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