Production of fullerenic nanostructures in flames
AssigneeMassachusetts Institute of Technology
InventorsJack B. Howard, John B. Vander Sande, K. Das Chowdhury
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Abstract
A method for the production of fullerenic nanostructures is described in which unsaturated hydrocarbon fuel and oxygen are combusted in a burner chamber at a sub-atmospheric pressure, thereby establishing a flame. The condensibles of the flame are collected at a post-flame location. The condensibles contain fullerenic nanostructures, such as single and nested nanotubes, single and nested nanoparticles and giant fullerenes. The method of producing fullerenic soot from flames is also described.
Claims36
A method for the production of fullerenic nanostructures, comprising:
- combusting an unsaturated hydrocarbon fuel and oxygen in a non-arc-discharge burner chamber at a sub-atmospheric pressure, thereby establishing a flame;
- collecting condensibles of the flame at a post-flame location, the condensibles comprising fullerenic nanostructures and soot, the fullerenic nanostructures having the composition C.sub.n, where n.gtoreq.100;
- and
- separating the fullerenic nanostructures from the soot.
A method for the production of a fullerenic nanotube, comprising:
- combusting an unsaturated hydrocarbon fuel and oxygen in a non-arc-discharge burner chamber at a sub-atmospheric pressure, thereby establishing a flame, the flame conditions sufficient to produce a fullerenic nanotube that is closed at both ends by spheroidal caps of fullerenic carbon;
- collecting condensibles of the flame at a post-flame location, the condensibles comprising the fullerenic nanotube;
- and
- separating the fullerenic nanotube from the soot.
The method of claim. 1 or 2, wherein the step of combusting an unsaturated hydrocarbon fuel and oxygen comprises combusting the fuel and oxygen in a turbulent flame.
The method of production of a fullerenic nanostructure, comprising the steps of:
- combusting an unsaturated hydrocarbon fuel and oxygen in a non-arc-discharge burner chamber at sub-atmospheric pressure, thereby establishing a flame, the flame conditions sufficient to obtain a fullerenic nanostructure at a post-flame location;
- introducing an oxidizing agent into the flame at a location downstream from the post-flame location, the oxidizing agent selected such that non-fullerenic nanostructures are oxidized;
- collecting condensibles of the flame at a location downstream from the point of introduction of said oxidizing agent, the condensibles comprising the fullerenic nanostructure and soot, the fullerenic nanostructure having the composition C.sub.n, where n is 100 or more;
- and
- separating the fullerenic nanostructure from the soot.
The method of production of a fullerenic nanotube, comprising the step of:
- combusting an unsaturated hydrocarbon fuel and oxygen in a non-arc-discharge burner chamber at a sub-atmospheric pressure, thereby establishing a flame, the flame conditions sufficient to produce a fullerenic nanotube at a post-flame location, such that the fullerenic nanotube is closed at both ends by spheroidal caps of fullerenic carbon;
- introducing an oxidizing agent into the flame at a location downstream from the post-flame location, such that end caps of said fullerenic nanotubes are oxidized to open said ends of the fullerenic nanotubes;
- collecting condensibles of the flame at a location downstream from the point of introduction of said oxidizing agent, the condensibles comprising open-end fullerenic nanotube and soot;
- and
- separating the fullerenic nanotube from the soot.
A method for the production of fullerenic nanostructures, comprising:
- combusting an unsaturated hydrocarbon fuel and oxygen in a burner chamber at a sub-atmospheric pressure in the range of greater than 100 to 300 torr, thereby establishing a flame;
- and
- collecting condensibles of the flame at a post-flame location, the condensibles comprising fullerenic nanostructures and soot, the fullerenic nanostructures having the composition C.sub.n, where n>100;
- and
- separating the fullerenic nanostructures from the soot.
A method for the production of a fullerenic nanotube, comprising:
- combusting an unsaturated hydrocarbon fuel and oxygen in a burner chamber at a sub-atmospheric pressure in the range of greater than 100 to 300 torr, thereby establishing a flame, the flame conditions sufficient to produce a fullerenic nanotube, wherein the fullerenic nanotube is closed at both ends by spheroidal caps of fullerenic carbon;
- and
- collecting condensibles of the flame at a post-flame location, the condensibles comprising a fullerenic nanotube and soot;
- and
- separating the fullerenic nanotube from the soot.
A method for the production of a nested nanostructure, comprising
- combusting an unsaturated hydrocarbon fuel and oxygen in a burner chamber at a sub-atmospheric pressure, thereby establishing a flame;
- and
- collecting condensibles of the flame at a post-flame location, the condensibles comprising nested fullerenic nanostructures and soot, the nested fullerenic nanostructures having the composition C.sub.n, where n.gtoreq.100;
- and
- separating nested fullerenic nanostructures from the soot.
A method for the production of fullerenic nanostructures, comprising:
- combusting a first hydrocarbon fuel and oxygen in a burner chamber at a sub-atmospheric pressure to establish a flame;
- introducing a second unsaturated hydrocarbon fuel at a transition region between an oxidation zone where the flame is at a temperature sufficient to combust fuel and a post-flame zone where flame is at a temperature less than that of the oxidation zone and sufficient to form fullerenic structures;
- collecting condensibles of the flame at a post-flame location, the condensibles comprising fullerenic nanostructures and soot, the fullerenic nanostructures having the composition C.sub.n, where n.gtoreq.100;
- and
- separating the fullerenic nanostructures from the soot.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.