Carbon Nanotube Wire Assembly via Segmented Gas Flow
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for manufacturing carbon nanotube assembled wires face inefficiencies in collection due to limitations in raw material gas flow rates within carbon nanotube synthesis furnaces, restricting the production of longer, high-strength wires.
Innovation Solution
A method and apparatus that involve supplying a carbon-containing gas to catalyst particles in a tubular synthesis furnace, orienting the grown carbon nanotubes in a longitudinal direction, and using a collecting gas stream with a higher flow velocity to efficiently collect and assemble the nanotubes into longer wires, potentially up to 100 times the flow velocity of the carbon-containing gas.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If the flow rate of raw material gas is increased to improve collection efficiency, then the collection efficiency improves, but the catalytic reaction for carbon nanotube synthesis is inhibited
Solution Approach 1:
The gas flow system is segmented into two distinct functions: a first gas stream for carbon nanotube synthesis and a second gas stream for collection. This allows each stream to operate at its optimal flow rate independently, resolving the contradiction between synthesis reliability and collection efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
A collecting gas stream generator acts as an intermediary device that creates a separate collection mechanism. This intermediary system enables efficient collection without interfering with the catalytic synthesis process, as the two gas streams operate in parallel rather than competing for the same flow rate.
2Productivity
If the flow velocity of collecting gas stream is increased to improve collection efficiency, then collection efficiency improves up to 100 times, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The invention uses pneumatic principles to generate the collecting gas stream, leveraging gas flow dynamics to achieve high collection efficiency. The collecting gas stream generator utilizes pressure differentials and gas flow characteristics to transport carbon nanotubes without requiring complex mechanical collection systems.
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 efficient collection and assembly of carbon nanotube wires, maintaining their quality and mechanical strength while overcoming previous limitations in raw material gas flow rates, resulting in longer, high-strength wires.
Implementation Method 1
supplying a carbon-containing gas at one, first end of a tubular carbon nanotube synthesis furnace to grow a carbon nanotube from each of a plurality of catalyst particles suspended in the carbon nanotube synthesis furnace
Implementation Method 2
collecting the carbon nanotube assembled wire using a collecting gas stream flowing from a second end of the carbon nanotube synthesis furnace opposite to the first end in a direction away from the carbon nanotube synthesis furnace
Data Source
AI summary
A method for manufacturing a carbon nanotube assembled wire includes: a first step of supplying a carbon-containing gas at one, first end of a tubular carbon nanotube synthesis furnace to grow a carbon nanotube from each of a plurality of catalyst particles suspended in the carbon nanotube synthesis furnace to synthesize a plurality of carbon nanotubes; a second step of orienting the plurality of carbon nanotubes in a longitudinal direction of the carbon nanotubes in a first channel provided in the carbon nanotube synthesis furnace, and thus assembling them together, to form a carbon nanotube assembled wire; and a third step of collecting the carbon nanotube assembled wire using a collecting gas stream flowing from a second end of the carbon nanotube synthesis furnace opposite to the first end in a direction away from the carbon nanotube synthesis furnace.