Surface-Treated Carbon Nanostructures Dispersion Stability

Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional surface-treated carbon nanotubes and oxidized multi-walled carbon nanotubes fail to achieve excellent dispersion stability in liquid media, making it difficult to form stable dispersions for various applications.

Innovation Solution

A method involving depressurization of a carbon nanostructure-containing liquid followed by the addition of an oxidizing agent to achieve a surface oxygen atom concentration of 7.0% or more, ensuring even treatment and improved dispersion stability.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Manufacturing precision

If carbon nanostructures are surface-treated with oxidizing agents using conventional methods, then surface oxygen concentration is improved, but dispersion stability deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesurface oxygen concentrationVSAvoiddispersion stability

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by performing depressurization treatment on the carbon nanostructure-containing liquid before adding the oxidizing agent. This preliminary step removes gas bubbles and creates a more uniform liquid state, ensuring that subsequent oxidizing agent addition results in even surface treatment. The depressurization is maintained for a specific time period to achieve the desired effect before proceeding with oxidation, thereby improving both surface oxygen concentration and dispersion stability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

2Ease of operation

If carbon nanostructures are aggregated to form films or combined with polymeric materials, then handling and processing ease is improved, but dispersion stability deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvehandling and processing easeVSAvoiddispersion stability

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by performing depressurization treatment on the carbon nanostructure-containing liquid before adding the oxidizing agent. This preliminary step removes gas bubbles and creates a more uniform liquid state, ensuring that subsequent oxidizing agent addition results in even surface treatment. The depressurization is maintained for a specific time period to achieve the desired effect before proceeding with oxidation, thereby improving both surface oxygen concentration and dispersion stability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

3Device complexity

If surface treatment is performed without depressurization, then process complexity is reduced, but treatment uniformity deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveprocess complexityVSAvoidtreatment uniformity

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by performing depressurization treatment on the carbon nanostructure-containing liquid before adding the oxidizing agent. This preliminary step removes gas bubbles and creates a more uniform liquid state, ensuring that subsequent oxidizing agent addition results in even surface treatment. The depressurization is maintained for a specific time period to achieve the desired effect before proceeding with oxidation, thereby improving both surface oxygen concentration and dispersion stability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

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

The method produces carbon nanostructures with enhanced dispersion stability, preventing aggregation and allowing for the formation of stable dispersions suitable for various applications.

Implementation Method 1

a surface treatment step wherein an oxidizing agent is added in the carbon nanostructure-containing liquid after or during the depressurization step so that the carbon nanostructures have a surface oxygen atom concentration of 7.0 at % or more

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectOxidation: Oxidation

Implementation Method 2

a depressurization step wherein a carbon nanostructure-containing liquid which comprises carbon nanostructures and a dispersion medium is depressurized

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectDepressurization: Depressurisation

Data Source

PatentUS11643328B2Method of producing surface-treated carbon nanostructures

Publication Date: 2023.05.09 ZEON CORP

AI summary

Disclosed is a method of producing surface-treated carbon nanostructures which comprises: a depressurization step wherein a carbon nanostructure-containing liquid which comprises carbon nanostructures and a dispersion medium is depressurized; and a surface treatment step wherein an oxidizing agent is added in the carbon nanostructure-containing liquid after or during the depressurization step so that the carbon nanostructures have a surface oxygen atom concentration of 7.0 at % or more. The carbon nanostructures preferably comprise carbon nanotubes.