# US 10,501,317 B2 · High aspect ratio nanoscale multifunctional materials

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- Number: US 10,501,317 B2
- Document ID: US10501317B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 13/065,540
- Filed: 2011-03-24
- Published: 2012-09-27
- Granted: 2019-12-10
- Earliest claimed: 2011-03-24
- Assignees: Council of Scientific and Industrial Research
- Applicants: Sreekumar Kurungot; Beena Kalasaparambil Balan; Ulhas Kanhaiyalal Kharul; Vijayamohanan Kunjuukrishna Pillai
- Inventors: Sreekumar Kurungot; Beena Kalasaparambil Balan; Ulhas Kanhaiyalal Kharul; Vijayamohanan Kunjuukrishna Pillai
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10501317B2

## CPC

- H01M 4/96: Carbon-based electrodes
- B82Y 30/00: Nanotechnology for materials or surface science, e.g. nanocomposites
- B82Y 40/00: Manufacture or treatment of nanostructures
- Y02E 60/50: Fuel cells
- H01M: PROCESSES OR MEANS, e.g. BATTERIES, FOR THE DIRECT CONVERSION OF CHEMICAL ENERGY INTO ELECTRICAL ENERGY
- B82Y: SPECIFIC USES OR APPLICATIONS OF NANOSTRUCTURES; MEASUREMENT OR ANALYSIS OF NANOSTRUCTURES; MANUFACTURE OR TREATMENT OF NANOSTRUCTURES
- Y02E: REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION

## Abstract

The present invention discloses high aspect ratio multifunctional nanocomposite of CNF/polymer comprising of functionalized CNF incorporated with metal nanoparticles and phosphoric acid doped polybenzimidazole (PBI) along the inner and outer surfaces of hollow carbon nanofiber and to a process for fabrication of the same thereof.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A high aspect ratio multifunctional material comprising functionalized hollow carbon nanofibers (CNF) coated with metal nanoparticles in phosphoric acid doped polybenzimidazole (PBI) along the inner and outer surfaces of the hollow carbon nanofibers;
wherein the metal nanoparticles have a size of 3-4 nm.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The material as claimed in claim 1 wherein said carbon nanofibers are 80-120 nm in diameter and 5-10 micrometers in length.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The material as claimed in claim 2 wherein said carbon nanofibers are 100 nm in diameter.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The material as claimed in claim 1 wherein said carbon nanofibers are of high aspect ratio of greater than 10.

### Claim 5 (depends on 4)

The material as claimed in claim 4 wherein said carbon nanofibers are of high aspect ratio of 10-15.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The material as claimed in claim 1, wherein the phosphoric acid doped PBI has inherent viscosity in the range of 0.1-0.5 dLg−1.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The material as claimed in claim 1, wherein the metal nanoparticles is loaded in the range of 2-60 weight %.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

A process for the fabrication of the high aspect ratio multifunctional material as claimed in claim 1, wherein the said process comprising the steps of;
a) preparing phosphoric acid doped polybenzimidazole polymer by a solution polycondensation method;
b) dispersing Pt or Rh nanoparticles into the tubular region of carbon nanofibers by a simultaneous dispersion and reduction through polyol process;
c) encapsulating the phosphoric acid doped PBI in a solvent as obtained in step (a) with metal dispersed carbon nanofibers as obtained in step (b) to obtain high aspect ratio multifunctional material.

### Claim 9 (depends on 8)

The process as claimed in claim 8, wherein phosphoric acid doped PBI and the metal nanoparticles are incorporated on both the inner and outer walls of carbon nanofibers by a process based on the wetting and capillary action of solvent medium.

### Claim 10 (depends on 8)

The process as claimed in claim 8, wherein step (a) or (c) uses a dipolar aprotic solvent.

### Claim 11 (depends on 10)

The process as claimed in claim 10, wherein the dipolar aprotic solvent is selected from the group consisting of acetone, methyl ethyl ketone, ethylacetate and N,N dimethyl acetamide (DMAc).

### Claim 12 (depends on 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)

An article comprising the high aspect ratio multifunctional material according to any of claims 1-7, wherein the article is a fuel cell, a solar cell, a supercapacitor, a sensor, or a drug delivery system.

### Claim 13 (depends on 1)

The material of claim 1, wherein the metal nanoparticles is loaded in the range of 15-25 weight %.

### Claim 14 (depends on 1)

The material as claimed in claim 1, wherein the metal nanoparticles is loaded in the range of 2-20 weight %.

### Claim 15 (depends on 1)

The material of claim 1, wherein the phosphoric acid doped PBI has inherent viscosity in the range of 0.47-0.5 dLg−1.