# US 2019/0169030 A1 · Method for producing carbon nanostructure and apparatus for producing carbon nanostructure > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2019/0169030 A1 - Document ID: US20190169030A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 16/308,141 - Filed: 2017-03-14 - Published: 2019-06-06 - Earliest claimed: 2016-06-10 - Assignees: Sumitomo Electric Industries, Ltd. - Applicants: Sumitomo Electric Industries, Ltd. - Inventors: Takeshi HIKATA; Soichiro OKUBO; Ryusuke NAKAI; Daisuke TANIOKA - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20190169030A1 ## CPC - C01B 32/15: Nano-sized carbon materials - B01J 4/008: {Feed or outlet control devices} - B01J 15/005: {in the presence of catalytically active bodies, e.g. porous plates} - B01J 19/127: {Sunlight; Visible light} - B01J 19/1887: {forming a thin film} - C01B 32/16: Preparation - C01B 32/162: characterised by catalysts - D01F 9/127: by thermal decomposition of hydrocarbon gases or vapours {or other carbon-containing compounds in the form of gas or vapour, e.g. carbon monoxide, alcohols} - D01F 9/133: Apparatus therefor - B01J 2219/00033: Continuous processes - B82Y 40/00: Manufacture or treatment of nanostructures - C01B: NON-METALLIC ELEMENTS; COMPOUNDS THEREOF; {METALLOIDS OR COMPOUNDS THEREOF NOT COVERED BY SUBCLASS C01C} - B01J: CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROCESSES, e.g. CATALYSIS OR COLLOID CHEMISTRY; THEIR RELEVANT APPARATUS - D01F: CHEMICAL FEATURES IN THE MANUFACTURE OF ARTIFICIAL FILAMENTS, THREADS, FIBRES, BRISTLES OR RIBBONS; APPARATUS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR THE MANUFACTURE OF CARBON FILAMENTS - B82Y: SPECIFIC USES OR APPLICATIONS OF NANOSTRUCTURES; MEASUREMENT OR ANALYSIS OF NANOSTRUCTURES; MANUFACTURE OR TREATMENT OF NANOSTRUCTURES ## Abstract A method for producing a carbon nanostructure according to an aspect of the present invention is a method in which a carbon nanostructure is produced between a base body and a separable body while the separable body is relatively moved away from the base body, the base body including a carburizable metal that is a principal constituent, the separable body including a carburizable metal that is a principal constituent, the separable body being joined to or in contact with the base body in a linear or strip-like shape. The method includes a carburizing gas feed step, an oxidizing gas feed step, a heating step in which the portion of the base body at which the base body and the separable body are joined to or in contact with each other is heated, and a separation step in which the separable body is relatively moved away from the base body. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method for producing a carbon nanostructure in which a carbon nanostructure is produced between a base body and a separable body while the separable body is relatively moved away from the base body, the base body including a carburizable metal that is a principal constituent, the separable body including a carburizable metal that is a principal constituent, the separable body being joined to or in contact with the base body in a linear or strip-like shape, the method comprising: a carburizing gas feed step in which a carburizing gas is fed to at least a portion of the base body at which the base body and the separable body are joined to or in contact with each other; an oxidizing gas feed step in which an oxidizing gas is fed to at least a part of a portion of the base body which is other than the portion of the base body to which the carburizing gas is fed in the carburizing gas feed step; a heating step in which the portion of the base body at which the base body and the separable body are joined to or in contact with each other is heated; and a separation step in which the separable body is relatively moved away from the base body. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method for producing a carbon nanostructure according to claim 1, wherein the carburizing gas includes at least one selected from the group consisting of a hydrocarbon, carbon monoxide, and an alcohol. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The method for producing a carbon nanostructure according to claim 1, wherein the oxidizing gas includes at least one selected from the group consisting of oxygen, water vapor, and carbon dioxide. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The method for producing a carbon nanostructure according to claim 1, wherein the principal constituents of the base body and the separable body are selected from iron, nickel, cobalt, and an alloy of any of iron, nickel, and cobalt. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The method for producing a carbon nanostructure according to claim 1, wherein the base body and the separable body are joined to each other in a linear or strip-like shape, and wherein the separation performed in the separation step is to divide the separable body from the base body. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The method for producing a carbon nanostructure according to claim 5, wherein the portion of the base body at which the base body and the separable body are joined to each other has a notch formed therein, the notch inducing division of the separable body from the base body. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The method for producing a carbon nanostructure according to claim 1, the method further comprising a gap observation step in which a gap formed in the separation step is observed. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The method for producing a carbon nanostructure according to claim 1, the method further comprising an oxidizing-gas feed portion observation step in which the portion of the base body to which the oxidizing gas is fed in the oxidizing gas feed step is observed. ### Claim 9 An apparatus for producing a carbon nanostructure with which a carbon nanostructure is produced between a base body and a separable body while the separable body is relatively moved away from the base body, the base body including a carburizable metal that is a principal constituent, the separable body including a carburizable metal that is a principal constituent, the separable body being joined to or in contact with the base body in a linear or strip-like shape, the apparatus comprising: a separator that hermetically isolates a portion of the base body at which the base body and the separable body are joined to or in contact with each other from the other portion of the base body; a carburizing gas feed mechanism that feeds a carburizing gas to the portion of the base body at which the base body and the separable body are joined to or in contact with each other, the portion being isolated by the separator; an oxidizing gas feed mechanism that feeds an oxidizing gas to the other portion of the base body, the other portion being isolated by the separator; a heating mechanism that heats the portion of the base body at which the base body and the separable body are joined to or in contact with each other; and a separation mechanism that relatively moves the separable body away from the base body. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The apparatus for producing a carbon nanostructure according to claim 9, wherein the heating mechanism is a laser. ### Claim 11 (depends on 9) The apparatus for producing a carbon nanostructure according to claim 9, the apparatus further comprising a gap observation mechanism that observes a gap formed between the base body and the separable body.