# US 2017/0283263 A1 · Interwoven carbon nanotube mats > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2017/0283263 A1 - Document ID: US20170283263A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 15/390,602 - Filed: 2016-12-26 - Published: 2017-10-05 - Earliest claimed: 2016-03-31 - Assignees: The Boeing Company - Applicants: The Boeing Company - Inventors: Keith Daniel Humfeld - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20170283263A1 ## CPC - D05B 19/12: characterised by control of operation of machine - C01B 32/16: Preparation - C01B 32/162: characterised by catalysts - C01B 32/174: Derivatisation; Solubilisation; Dispersion in solvents - C23C 16/26: Deposition of carbon only - B82Y 30/00: Nanotechnology for materials or surface science, e.g. nanocomposites - C01B 2202/08: Aligned nanotubes - Y10T 428/30: Self-sustaining carbon mass or layer with impregnant or other layer - D05B: SEWING (appliances for the tailoring trade A41H; sewing tables A47B29/00; sewing in bookbinding B42B2/00; sewing machines modified for knitting D04B39/08) - C01B: NON-METALLIC ELEMENTS; COMPOUNDS THEREOF; {METALLOIDS OR COMPOUNDS THEREOF NOT COVERED BY SUBCLASS C01C} - C23C: COATING METALLIC MATERIAL; COATING MATERIAL WITH METALLIC MATERIAL; SURFACE TREATMENT OF METALLIC MATERIAL BY DIFFUSION INTO THE SURFACE, BY CHEMICAL CONVERSION OR SUBSTITUTION; COATING BY VACUUM EVAPORATION, BY SPUTTERING, BY ION IMPLANTATION OR BY CHEMICAL VAPOUR DEPOSITION, IN GENERAL (making metal-coated products by extrusion B21C23/22; covering with metal by connecting pre-existing layers to articles, see the relevant places, e.g. B21D39/00, B23K; metallising of glass C03C; metallising mortars, concrete, artificial stone, ceramics or natural stone C04B41/00; enamelling of, or applying a vitreous layer to, metals C23D; treating metal surfaces or coating of metals by electrolysis or electrophoresis C25D; single-crystal film growth C30B; by metallising textiles D06M11/83; decorating textiles by locally metallising D06Q1/04) - B82Y: SPECIFIC USES OR APPLICATIONS OF NANOSTRUCTURES; MEASUREMENT OR ANALYSIS OF NANOSTRUCTURES; MANUFACTURE OR TREATMENT OF NANOSTRUCTURES - Y10T: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION ## Abstract Systems and methods are provided for stitching together sheets of interwoven carbon nanotubes. One embodiment is a method that includes providing multiple sheets of interwoven carbon nanotubes, arranging the sheets over a substrate such that interstices of the sheets overlap at a stitch region of the substrate and heating catalysts at the substrate above a threshold temperature to trigger growth of new carbon nanotubes. The method also includes adjusting alignment of an electrical field that defines a direction of growth of the new carbon nanotubes, thereby causing the new carbon nanotubes to grow through the interstices and then stitch the sheets together. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method comprising: providing multiple sheets of interwoven carbon nanotubes; arranging the sheets over a substrate such that interstices of the sheets overlap at a stitch region of the substrate; heating catalysts at the substrate above a threshold temperature to trigger growth of new carbon nanotubes; and adjusting alignment of an electrical field that defines a direction of growth of the new carbon nanotubes, thereby causing the new carbon nanotubes to grow through the interstices and then stitch the sheets together. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1 wherein: adjusting alignment of the electrical field comprises: aligning the electrical field in a first vertical direction to grow the new carbon nanotubes through the interstices, followed by aligning the electrical field in a first lateral direction, followed by aligning the electrical field in a second vertical direction to grow the new carbon nanotubes back through the interstices, followed by aligning the electrical field in a second lateral direction, followed by aligning the electrical field in the first vertical direction and completing a stitch. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The method of claim 2 further comprising: waiting for the new carbon nanotubes to grow at least an interstitial distance after aligning the electrical field in the first lateral direction; and waiting for the new carbon nanotubes to grow at least an interstitial distance after aligning the electrical field in the second lateral direction. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1 further comprising: growing an end of each new carbon nanotube around another carbon nanotube. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1 further comprising: for each new carbon nanotube, growing an end of the new carbon nanotube around the new carbon nanotube. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1 wherein: adjusting alignment of the electrical field comprises iteratively: aligning the electrical field to grow the new carbon nanotubes in a first vertical direction to grow the new carbon nanotubes through the interstices, followed by aligning the electrical field in a lateral direction, followed by aligning the electrical field in a second vertical direction to grow the new carbon nanotubes back through the interstices, followed by aligning the electrical field in the lateral direction. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1 further comprising: placing the sheets and the substrate within a Chemical Vapor Deposition (CVD) furnace. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1 further comprising: bracing the sheets arranged over the substrate. ### Claim 9 A non-transitory computer readable medium embodying programmed instructions which, when executed by a processor, are operable for performing a method for stitching multiple sheets of interwoven carbon nanotubes arranged over a substrate such that interstices of the sheets partially overlap at a stitch region of the substrate, the method comprising: heating catalysts at the substrate above a threshold temperature to trigger growth of new carbon nanotubes; and adjusting alignment of an electrical field that defines a direction of growth of the new carbon nanotubes, thereby causing the new carbon nanotubes to grow through the interstices and then stitch the sheets together. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The medium of claim 9 wherein: adjusting alignment of the electrical field comprises: aligning the electrical field in a first vertical direction to grow the new carbon nanotubes through the interstices, followed by aligning the electrical field in a first lateral direction, followed by aligning the electrical field in a second vertical direction to grow the new carbon nanotubes back through the interstices, followed by aligning the electrical field in a second lateral direction, followed by aligning the electrical field in the first vertical direction and completing a stitch. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The medium of claim 10 wherein the method further comprises: waiting for the new carbon nanotubes to grow at least an interstitial distance after aligning the electrical field in the first lateral direction; and waiting for the new carbon nanotubes to grow at least an interstitial distance after aligning the electrical field in the second lateral direction. ### Claim 12 (depends on 9) The medium of claim 9 wherein the method further comprises: growing an end of each new carbon nanotube around another carbon nanotube. ### Claim 13 (depends on 9) The medium of claim 9 wherein the method further comprises: for each new carbon nanotube, growing an end of the new carbon nanotube around the new carbon nanotube. ### Claim 14 (depends on 9) The medium of claim 9 wherein: adjusting alignment of the electrical field comprises iteratively: aligning the electrical field to grow the new carbon nanotubes in a first vertical direction to grow the new carbon nanotubes through the interstices, followed by aligning the electrical field in a lateral direction, followed by aligning the electrical field in a second vertical direction to grow the new carbon nanotubes back through the interstices, followed by aligning the electrical field in the lateral direction. ### Claim 15 (depends on 9) The medium of claim 9 wherein the method further comprises: placing the sheets and the substrate within a Chemical Vapor Deposition (CVD) furnace. ### Claim 16 (depends on 9) The medium of claim 9 wherein the method further comprises: bracing the sheets arranged over the substrate. ### Claim 17 A system comprising: a substrate comprising multiple catalysts that grow carbon nanotubes, the substrate dimensioned to receive multiple sheets of interwoven carbon nanotubes having interstices that overlap at a stitch region of the substrate; a heating device that heats catalysts at the substrate above a threshold temperature to trigger growth of new carbon nanotubes; an electromagnetic source that generates an electrical field defining a direction of growth of the new carbon nanotubes; an actuator that reorients the electromagnetic source; and a controller that directs the actuator to adjust alignment of the electrical field as growth continues, thereby causing the new carbon nanotubes to grow through the interstices and then stitch the sheets together. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The system of claim 17 wherein: the controller directs the actuator to engage in: aligning the electrical field in a first vertical direction to grow the new carbon nanotubes through the interstices, followed by aligning the electrical field in a first lateral direction, followed by aligning the electrical field in a second vertical direction to grow the new carbon nanotubes back through the interstices, followed by aligning the electrical field in a second lateral direction, followed by aligning the electrical field in the first vertical direction and completing a stitch. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The system of claim 18 wherein: the controller waits for the new carbon nanotubes to grow at least an interstitial distance a after aligning the electrical field to grow the new carbon nanotubes in the first lateral direction; and the controller waits for the new carbon nanotubes to grow at least an interstitial distance after aligning the electrical field to grow the new carbon nanotubes in the second lateral direction. ### Claim 20 (depends on 17) The system of claim 17 wherein: the controller directs the actuator to adjust alignment of the electrical field such that ends of new carbon nanotubes grow around other carbon nanotubes. ### Claim 21 (depends on 17) The system of claim 17 wherein: the controller directs the actuator to adjust alignment of the electrical field such that an end of each new carbon nanotubes grow around the new carbon nanotube. ### Claim 22 (depends on 17) The system of claim 17 wherein: the controller directs the actuator to iteratively engage in: aligning the electrical field to grow the new carbon nanotubes in a first vertical direction to grow the new carbon nanotubes through the interstices, followed by aligning the electrical field in a lateral direction, followed by aligning the electrical field in a second vertical direction to grow the new carbon nanotubes back through the interstices, followed by aligning the electrical field in the lateral direction. ### Claim 23 (depends on 17) The system of claim 17 wherein: the catalysts are arranged along a first end of the substrate; and the stitching region extends from the first end of the substrate to a second end of the substrate. ### Claim 24 (depends on 17) The system of claim 17 wherein: the heating device comprises an electrically resistive heater. ### Claim 25 (depends on 17) The system of claim 17 wherein: the heating device comprises a lighting system.