Process for preparing carbon nanotubes
AssigneeHer Majesty the Queen in right of Canada, as represented by the Minister of National Defence of Her Majesty's Canadian Government
InventorsJean Pol Dodelet, Xuellang Sun, Sylvain Desilets
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Carbon nanotubes are produced using a silane procedure, in which a substrate such as carbon paper or stainless steel mesh is immersed in a silane solution of a metal catalyst, preferable Co:Ni in a 1:1 ratio; and a feedstock gas containing a carbon source such as ethylene is fed through the substrate and the catalyst deposited thereon while the substrate is heated by applying an electrical current thereto. Thus, a reaction occurs between the catalyst and the gas to yield carbon nanotubes supported on the conductive substrate. These composite electrodes may be used in electrochemistry or in field emitting applications.
Claims15
A process for producing carbon nanotubes comprising the steps of:
- (a) preparing a halogenated silane solution of a metallic catalyst;
- (b) immersing an electrically conductive substrate in the silane solution to deposit catalyst thereon;
- (c) passing a feedstock gas containing a source of carbon through the substrate;
- and
- (d) applying an electrical current to the substrate to heat the substrate sufficiently to generate a reaction between the catalyst and the gas resulting in the formation of carbon nanotubes.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.