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US 5,346,683 AGranted
Uncapped and thinned carbon nanotubes and process
AssigneeGas Research Institute
InventorsMalcolm L. H. Green, Shik C. Tsang
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Uncapped and thinned carbon nanotubes are produced by reaction with a flowing reactant gas capable of reaction selectively with carbon atoms in the capped region of nanotubes. The uncapped and thinned nanotubes provide open compartments for insertion of chemicals and exhibit enhanced surface area with modified physical and chemical properties.
Claims22
A process for uncapping carbon nanotubes capped at their ends comprising:
- providing carbon nanotubes capped at their ends;
- contacting said carbon nanotubes capped at their ends with a reactant gas stream comprising a reactant gas capable of reacting with carbon in a capped region of said ends of said carbon nanotubes capped at their ends to form a gaseous product thereby opening at least one end of said carbon nanotube.
Carbon nanotubes comprising:
- fillable, hollow carbon tubes, formed by a plurality of carbon tube layers, said tubes being open on at least one end and having an area adjacent said at least one open end formed by fewer than said plurality of carbon tube layers.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.