Systems and methods for formation and harvesting of nanofibrous materials
AssigneeNanocomp Technologies, Inc.
InventorsDavid S. Lashmore, Joseph J. Brown, Jared K. Chaffee, Bruce Resnicoff, Peter Antoinette
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Abstract
A system that receives nanomaterials, forms nanofibrous materials therefrom, and collects these nanofibrous materials for subsequent applications. The system is coupled to a chamber that generates nanomaterials, typically carbon nanotubes produced from chemical vapor deposition, and includes a mechanism for spinning the nanotubes into yarns or tows. Alternatively, the system includes a mechanism for forming non-woven sheets from the nanotubes. The system also includes components for collecting the formed nanofibrous materials. Methods for forming and collecting the nanofibrous materials are also provided.
Claims15
A method for forming a nanofibrous non-woven sheet, the method comprising:
- synthesizing a volume of free-flowing nanotubes from a carbon source and a plurality of catalyst particles;
- depositing the volume of free-flowing nanotubes continually onto a moving surface;
- transporting the volume of nanotubes continually deposited onto the moving surface away from a point of deposition;
- applying pressure onto the plurality of nanotubes against the surface, so as to compact the nanotubes into a non-woven sheet of intermingled nanotubes;
- directing the non-woven sheet toward an area independent of the moving surface for collection;
- putting a material onto one side of the non-woven sheet to prevent the non-woven sheet from bonding to itself;
- and
- collecting the non-woven sheet from the moving surface by winding the sheet about an axis substantially transverse to a direction of movement of the sheet.
A method for forming a nanofibrous non-woven sheet, the method comprising:
- synthesizing a volume of free-flowing nanotubes from a carbon source and a plurality of catalyst particles;
- depositing the volume of free-flowing nanotubes continually onto a moving surface;
- transporting the volume of nanotubes continually deposited onto the moving surface away from a point of deposition;
- directing the non-woven sheet toward an area independent of the moving surface for collection;
- and
- collecting the non-woven sheet from the moving surface.
A method for forming a nanofibrous sheet, the method comprising:
- synthesizing, from a carbon source and a plurality of catalyst particles, a volume of free-flowing nanotubes;
- continually depositing the volume of free-flowing nanotubes onto a moving surface;
- transporting the volume of nanotubes continually deposited onto the moving surface away from a point of deposition;
- allowing the plurality of nanotubes deposited onto the surface to compact into a non-woven sheet of intermingled nanotubes;
- and
- collecting the non-woven sheet.
A method for forming a nanofibrous sheet, the method comprising:
- synthesizing, from a carbon source and a plurality of catalyst particles, a volume of free-flowing nanotubes;
- continually depositing the volume of free-flowing nanotubes onto a moving surface;
- transporting the volume of nanotubes continually deposited onto the moving surface away from a point of deposition;
- removing the non-woven sheet from the moving surface;
- and
- collecting the non-woven sheet from the moving surface.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.