Reversible oxidation of carbon nanotubes
AssigneeE. I. Du Pont de Nemours and Company
InventorsBruce Diner, Ming Zheng
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Abstract
Carbon nanotubes have been reversibly and readily oxidized and reduced with common chemicals in solution, thereby allowing the nanotubes to be used as catalysts for chemical reactions and as stable charge storage devices.
Claims67
A stable charge storage device comprising at least one oxidized or reduced carbon nanotube in solution.
A process to catalyze a redox reaction comprising:
- contacting at least one carbon nanotube in solution with:
- a) an oxidizing agent and an oxidizable compound or
- b) a reducing agent and a reducible compound
- wherein the redox reaction is catalyzed.
A process for altering the reduction potential of a carbon nanotube in solution comprising contacting the carbon nanotube with a dispersant.
A process for selecting the reduction potential of a carbon nanotube comprising:
- a) determining the diameter of a carbon nanotube;
- and
- b) correlating the diameter of step (a) with the reduction potential of the carbon nanotube.
A process for altering the number of valence electrons in a carbon nanotube comprising contacting a carbon nanotube with an oxidizing agent or a reducing agent.
A stable charge transfer reagent comprising at least one oxidized or reduced carbon nanotube in solution.
A pH sensor comprising at least one oxidized or reduced carbon nanotube in solution.
A photovoltaic cell comprising a film comprising carbon nanotubes.
A photovoltaic cell comprising:
- a) an optically transparent, electronically conductive substrate;
- b) a film comprising carbon nanotubes in contact with a);
- c) an electrolyte comprising a redox reagent in contact with b);
- and
- d) an electrically conductive cathode in contact with c.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.