Carbon nanotubes: high solids dispersions and nematic gels thereof

a technology of carbon nanotubes and solids, applied in nanoinformatics, instruments, transportation and packaging, etc., can solve the problems of chemically modified carbon nanotubes less desirable, difficult to keep individually dispersed in solution, and easy aggregate of nanotubes,
US20060099135A1Inactive Publication Date: 2006-05-11THE TRUSTEES OF THE UNIV OF PENNSYLVANIA
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Patent Information

Authority / Receiving Office
US ยท United States
Current Assignee / Owner
THE TRUSTEES OF THE UNIV OF PENNSYLVANIA
Publication Date
2006-05-11
Estimated Expiration
Not applicable ยท inactive patent

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Abstract

Disclosed are high weight fraction carbon nanotube dispersions including an aqueous medium, carbon nanotubes, and at least one surfactant, the surfactant having an aromatic group, an alkyl group having from about 4 to about 30 carbon atoms, and a charged head group. Also disclosed are ultrasonication processes capable of providing stable dispersions of carbon nanotubes having reduced breakage of the carbon nanotubes. The preparation of nematic nanotube gels from the carbon nanotube dispersions are also disclosed. A variety of uses and applications of the carbon nanotube dispersions and nematic nanotube gels are provided.
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Description

GOVERNMENT RIGHTS

[0001] The work leading to the disclosed invention was funded in whole or in part with Federal funds from the National Science Foundation. The Government may have certain rights in the invention under NSF contract DMR0079909.FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0002] The present invention is related to the field of carbon nanotubes. The present invention is also related to dispersions containing carbon nanotubes. In addition, the present invention is related to the field of materials and devices that contain carbon nanotubes. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0003] Carbon nanotubes are tiny fullerene-related structures of graphene cylinders having nanoscale diameters from about 0.7 to about 50 nanometers (โ€œnmโ€) and microscopic lengths from about 0.1 to about 20 microns (โ€œฮผmโ€). Carbon nanotubes are readily synthesized catalytically from hot carbon vapor or by thermal decomposition of a carbon-containing gas or liquid. Different synthetic methods yield nanotubes with one or several ne...

Claims

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