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US 2011/0256401 A1Published application
Process for producing carbon nanotubes and carbon nanotubes produced thereby
AssigneeUniversity of Maine System Board of Trustees
InventorsBarry S. Goodell, Xinfeng Xie, Yuhui Qian, Dajie Zhang, Michael L. Peterson, Jody L. Jellison
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Abstract
A process of producing a composite having carbon nanotubes is described where the carbon nanotube formation process of producing carbon nanotubes includes controlled heating of plant fiber materials in an oxygen-limited atmosphere. The plant fiber materials may be heated either cyclically or by rapid heating to produce the carbon nanotubes.
Claims46
A process of producing a composite having carbon nanotubes therein, the process comprising:
- heating a substrate and supply of carbon nanotube, the carbon nanotubes being formed by:
- a) establishing a supply of plant cellular material in a reaction vessel;
- b) introducing a controlled amount of oxygen into the reaction vessel;
- c) subjecting the reaction vessel to at least one heating cycle which includes heating and then cooling the reaction vessel to a temperature while maintaining the temperature between a desired maximum temperature and a desired minimum temperature, wherein the reaction vessel is at less than atmospheric pressure during at least one heating cycle;
- d) subjecting the reaction vessel to additional heating cycles sufficient to produce carbon nanotubes;
- and
- e) cooling the reaction vessel to a temperature below the temperature in the heating cycle.
4 more elements
A process of producing a composite having carbon nanotubes therein, the process comprising:
- heating a substrate in the presence of a carbon source, the carbon source comprising a supply of carbon nanotube formed by:
- a) pre-heating a reaction vessel to a desired temperature;
- b) introducing a supply of plant cellular material in the pre-heated reaction vessel;
- c) introducing a controlled amount of oxygen into the pre-heated reaction vessel;
- d) subjecting the pre-heated reaction vessel to a single heating cycle which includes heating the pre-heated reaction vessel to temperatures up to about 1000° C. in the presence of the controlled amount of oxygen;
- wherein the reaction vessel is at less than atmospheric pressure during at least one heating cycle;
- and,
- e) cooling the reaction vessel at a desired rate of cooling.
5 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.