Method
AssigneeQ-Flo Limited
InventorsLiron ISSMAN, Adam BOIES, Jeronimo TERRONES, Brian COLLINS, Fiona SMAIL, Philipp KLOZA, James ELLIOTT, Shuki YESHURUN, Meir HEFETZ, Martin PICK
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Abstract
The present invention relates to a method for the production of a carbon nanotube structure which has substantially aligned carbon nanotubes (CNTs) and to a temperature-controlled flow-through reactor.
Claims24
A method for the production of a carbon nanotube structure comprising:
- (a) introducing a metal catalyst precursor into a continuous flow of a carrier gas in a temperature-controlled flow-through reactor;
- (b) exposing the metal catalyst precursor in the flow of the carrier gas to a first temperature zone sufficient to generate particulate metal catalyst;
- (c) releasing a source of carbon into the flow of the carrier gas;
- (d) exposing the particulate metal catalyst and the source of carbon to a second temperature zone downstream from the first temperature zone, wherein the second temperature zone is sufficient to produce a carbon nanotube aggregate;
- (e) generating an electric field in the temperature-controlled flow-through reactor at or near to the second temperature zone;
- (f) discharging the carbon nanotube aggregate as a continuous discharge through a discharge outlet of the temperature-controlled flow-through reactor;
- and
- (g) collecting the continuous discharge in the form of a carbon nanotube structure.
A temperature-controlled flow-through reactor for the production of a carbon nanotube structure comprising:
- an elongate refractory housing extending from an upstream end to a downstream end;
- an inlet at or near to the upstream end of the elongate refractory housing for introducing a continuous flow of a carrier gas from the upstream end to and beyond the downstream end;
- a first feed for releasing a source of carbon into the continuous flow of the carrier gas;
- a second feed for introducing a metal catalyst precursor into the continuous flow of the carrier gas;
- a thermal enclosure surrounding the elongate refractory housing which is adapted to provide an axial temperature variation between temperature zones in the elongate refractory housing, wherein the temperature zones include a first temperature zone sufficient to generate particulate metal catalyst and a second temperature zone sufficient to produce a carbon nanotube aggregate;
- a collector for collecting from the downstream end a continuous discharge of the carbon nanotube aggregate in the form of a carbon nanotube structure;
- a first electrode positioned inside or outside the elongate refractory housing;
- and
- an electric field generator electrically connected to the first electrode so as to apply a high potential thereto which is sufficient to generate an electric field in the elongate refractory housing at or near to the second temperature zone.
A carbon nanotube aggregate or carbon nanotube structure which comprises carbon nanotube bundles with a median diameter which is variable axially along the carbon nanotube aggregate or carbon nanotube structure.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.