Processes for preparing amine-functionalized cellulose nanocrystals and nitrogen doped carbon nanofibers
AssigneeCelluforce Inc.
InventorsZengqian Shi, Xinyun Wu, Kam Chiu Tam, Richard Berry
Life of this patent
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Abstract
The present disclosure relates to a process for preparing coated cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs) and relates as well to coated cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs) obtainable by the process described herein. These new CNC hybrid nanomaterials are expected to be useful, for example, for the conjugation and electrostatic complexation with various functional moieties such as free metal ions, carboxylic acids, and epoxy and aldehyde derivatives. The disclosure further relates to a method to fabricate N-doped carbon nanomaterial from the coated CNCs.
Claims27
A process for preparing coated cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs) said process comprising:
- ia) mixing a reactive aldehyde with a polyamine compound under an alkaline pH and, optionally with heating;
- ib) combining the mixture from step ia) with a dispersion of CNCs in an aqueous medium;
- and ic) adjusting the resulting mixture of step ib) to an acidic pH;
- or
- iia) mixing a dispersion of CNCs in an aqueous medium with a reactive aldehyde and a polyamine compound under an alkaline pH and, optionally with heating and iib) adjusting the mixture of step iia) to an acidic pH;
- and
- isolating said coated CNCs after step ic) or step iib).
A process for producing a nitrogen-doped carbon nanomaterial, comprising:
- a) preparing coated cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs) according to a process comprising:
- ia) mixing a reactive aldehyde with a polyamine compound under an alkaline pH and, optionally with heating;
- ib) combining the mixture from step ia) with a dispersion of coated cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs) in an aqueous medium;
- and ic) adjusting the resulting mixture of step ib) to an acidic pH;
- or
- iia) mixing a dispersion of CNCs in an aqueous medium with a reactive aldehyde and a polyamine compound under an alkaline pH and, optionally with heating and iib) adjusting the mixture of step iia) to an acidic pH;
- isolating said coated CNCs after step ic) or step iib);
- b) drying the coated CNCs;
- c) carbonizing the dried coated CNCs in a furnace under inert gas at a temperature of from about 300 to about 1200 degrees Celsius;
- and
- d) cooling down the carbonized, dried coated CNCs material resultant from step (ii) under inert atmosphere.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.