Multilayer Carbon Nanotube Capacitor

Abstract

Multilayer carbon nanotube capacitors, and methods and printable compositions for manufacturing multilayer carbon nanotubes (CNTs) are disclosed. A first capacitor embodiment includes: a first conductor; a plurality of fixed CNTs in an ionic liquid, each fixed CNT comprising a magnetic catalyst nanoparticle coupled to a carbon nanotube and further coupled to the first conductor; and a first plurality of free CNTs dispersed and moveable in the ionic liquid. Another capacitor embodiment includes: a first conductor; a conductive nanomesh coupled to the first conductor; a first plurality of fixed CNTs in an ionic liquid and further coupled to the conductive nanomesh; and a plurality of free CNTs dispersed and moveable in the ionic liquid. Various methods of printing the CNTs and other structures, and methods of aligning and moving the CNTs using applied electric and magnetic fields, are also disclosed.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO A RELATED APPLICATION[0001]This application is a continuation of and claims priority to U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13 / 025,137, filed Feb. 10, 2011, inventors William Johnstone Ray et al., entitled “Multilayer Carbon Nanotube Capacitor”, which is a nonprovisional of and further claims priority under 35 U.S.C. Section 119 to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61 / 306,162, inventors William Johnstone Ray et al., entitled “System, Method and Apparatus for Printable Capacitors”, which are commonly assigned herewith, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference with the same full force and effect as if set forth in their entirety herein, and with priority claimed for all commonly disclosed subject matter.FIELD OF THE INVENTION[0002]The present invention in general is related to energy storage technology and, in particular, is related to a multilayer carbon nanotube-based capacitor and methods of and printable compositions for manufacturing...

AI Technical Summary

Problems solved by technology

Other available energy storage technologies such as the Faradaic battery and conventional dielectric capacitors have drawbacks.

Other attempts to use carbon nanotubes have included use of aligned CNTs having either a closed (capped) or an open (or uncapped) end, but have proved extraordinarily difficult to manufacture and scale up to commercial quantities.

While theoretically feasible, such alignment methods based on the growth of the CNTs are not practical beyond a laboratory environment.

Further, such complicated CNT and capacitor fabrication processes are prohibitively expensive, are not scalable and have not been able to achieve commercial production.

Such capacitor structures have not fully exploited the interior surfaces of the CNTs and the potential pore sizes of CNTs, have not addressed other methods of producing CNTs and the post-growth alignment of CNTs, and have not addressed specific energy density limitations of the resulting capacitors.

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