Carbon Nanostructure Growth on Basalt and Titanium Substrates
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for forming carbon-based nanostructures face challenges such as high costs due to expensive substrate materials, substrate degradation, and the need for auxiliary catalysts, which complicate the process and increase expenses.
Innovation Solution
The use of large-scale active growth structures made from basalt and/or titanium, which allow for the direct growth of carbon-based nanostructures without the need for auxiliary catalysts, simplifying the process and reducing costs, as these materials can act as catalysts or support structures for nanostructure formation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If commonly used substrate materials are used for growing carbon-based nanostructures, then the nanostructures can be formed, but the substrate materials are expensive and can degrade during the growth process
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs inexpensive materials such as basalt and titanium as growth substrates, replacing expensive conventional substrates. These materials serve as disposable or sacrificial elements that enable nanostructure growth without requiring high cost or complex preparation, directly addressing the contradiction between cost and reliability.
2Manufacturing precision
If auxiliary catalysts are used to prepare nanoscale particles on the substrate surface, then carbon-based nanostructures can be formed, but the process complexity and expenses increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent utilizes the growth substrate materials themselves (basalt, titanium) to catalyze or support the formation of carbon-based nanostructures without requiring separate auxiliary catalysts. The substrate performs the dual function of both support and catalyst, eliminating the need for additional catalyst preparation steps and reducing overall process complexity.
3Productivity
If large-scale active growth structures are used instead of conventional substrates, then production efficiency and cost-effectiveness improve, but the need to maintain structural integrity during growth becomes more challenging
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs composite material systems where basalt and/or titanium form the structural backbone of large-scale growth structures. These materials provide both the mechanical strength needed to maintain structural integrity and the catalytic properties needed for nanostructure growth, enabling large-scale production without sacrificing structural stability.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This approach enables the cost-effective and efficient production of carbon-based nanostructures on large-scale active growth structures, such as basalt and titanium, reducing the need for expensive substrates and catalysts, and maintaining the structural integrity of the growth substrates during the process.
Implementation Method 1
The use of active growth structures comprising basalt and/or titanium for growing carbon-based nanostructures
Data Source
AI summary
Systems and methods for the formation of carbon-based nanostructures using large-scale active growth structures are generally described. In addition, systems and methods related to the formation of carbon-based nanostructures using basalt and/or titanium (e.g., elemental titanium) are generally described. The carbon-based nanostructures can be grown by exposing the large-scale active growth structures, basalt, and/or titanium to a set of conditions selected to cause formation of carbon-based nanostructures on (e.g., directly on) the large-scale active growth structure, basalt, and/or titanium. When basalt and/or titanium are used as all or part of an active growth structure, the basalt and/or titanium can be in any suitable form such as, for example, a planar or non-planar active growth structure (which can have, in some cases, a first cross-sectional dimension of at least about 1 mm) comprising basalt and/or titanium (e.g., a fiber comprising basalt and/or titanium) and/or particles (e.g., nanoparticles) comprising basalt and/or titanium.