Sucrose Treated Carbon Nontube and Graphene Yarns and Sheets
AssigneeU.S.A. as represented by the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration
InventorsGodfrey Sauti, Jae-Woo Kim, Emilie J. Siochi, Kristopher E. Wise
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Abstract
Consolidated carbon nanotube or graphene yarns and woven sheets are consolidated through the formation of a carbon binder formed from the dehydration of sucrose. The resulting materials on a macro-scale are lightweight and of a high specific modulus and/or strength. Sucrose is relatively inexpensive and readily available, and the process is therefore cost-effective.
Claims20
A method of treating a carbon material to improve the mechanical properties thereof, the method comprising:
- providing a carbon material, the carbon material comprising a plurality of carbon microstructures, wherein the carbon microstructures are comprised of nanotubes, graphene sheets, or any combinations thereof;
- providing a liquid sucrose solution comprising sucrose intermixed with a solvent;
- applying the liquid sucrose solution to the carbon material;
- dehydrating the sucrose solution to form a binder that binds the carbon microstructures together to provide enhanced mechanical properties and form an amorphous carbon coated material,
- post-treating the amorphous carbon coated material to yield graphitic structures and further enhance mechanical properties.
A carbon material, comprising:
- a plurality of microscopic carbon structures that are interconnected to form a sheet or yarn, wherein a significant percentage of the microscopic structures are at least partially aligned with one another;
- sucrose dispersed on at least some of the microscopic structures;
- wherein the sucrose binds adjacent microscopic structures together and maintains alignment of the microscopic structures.
A method of treating materials formed from carbon nanotubes to improve the mechanical properties of the material, the method comprising:
- providing a material comprising carbon nanotubes that are interconnected to form a macroscopic material;
- stretching the macroscopic material to align the carbon nanotubes into an aligned configuration;
- soaking the macroscopic material in a liquid sucrose solution;
- dehydrating the deposited sucrose to form a binder that binds the carbon nanotubes in the aligned configuration.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.