Appliance having a container including a nanostructured material for hydrogen storage
AssigneeGeneral Electric Company
InventorAndrei Colibaba-Evulet
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An appliance that uses a substantially carbon-free hydrogen is disclosed. The appliance includes a converter, a hydrogen storage container including a carbon-based nanostructured material, a charger, a discharger and, optionally, a controller is disclosed. The hydrogen storage container is capable of storing the substantially carbon-free hydrogen in a condensed state. In addition to the carbon-based nanostructured material, the container may include a metal capable of acting as both a seed for the formation of the nanostructured material and a facilitator for promoting the storage in the condensed state of the substantially carbon-free gaseous hydrogen provided to the storage container.
Claims6
A continuous vapor deposition method for synthesizing a mixture of carbon nanostructures and metal nanoparticles comprising:
- (a) in a first stage, heating in an oxidizing flame a precursor, therein forming a metallic intermediate of nascent metal nanoparticles;
- (b) in a second stage, heating in a relatively cooler reducing flame the metallic intermediate formed in the first stage, therein forming metal nanoparticles and a mixture of nascent carbon nanostructures;
- and
- (c) in a third stage, quenching and depositing on a relatively cold substrate the metal nanoparticles which catalyze the nucleated growth of depositing carbon nanostructures, therein forming a mixture comprised of carbon nanotubes, graphite encapsulated metal nanoparticles, and nanofibers.
A system for the continuous vapor deposition synthesis of a mixture of carbon nanostructures and metal nanoparticles comprising:
- (a) an inline flame combustion chamber having an oxidizing zone and a cooler reducing zone that terminates with an exhaust exit;
- and
- a vapor deposition substrate that is relatively cold;
- wherein:
- (i) the oxidizing zone has a burner having a fuel input line, an oxidant input line, and a precursor input line;
- (ii) the reducing zone has a burner having a fuel input line, an oxidant input line, and a coolant additive input line;
- and
- (iii) the exhaust exit is aligned with the vapor deposition substrate.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.