Nanocarbon Separation Device with Porous Structure

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing methods for separating single-walled carbon nanotubes, such as those described in Patent Documents 1 and 2, face challenges with increased tank diameter, leading to disturbance and prolonged separation times due to convection in the dispersion liquid, making it inefficient for large-scale separation.

Innovation Solution

A nanocarbon separation device with a separation tank equipped with a porous structure, such as a sponge, between electrodes, which inhibits horizontal flow and allows for efficient separation of metallic and semiconducting nanocarbons by applying a direct current voltage, enabling quick and effective separation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Quantity of substance

If the diameter of the separation tank is increased to separate a large amount of nanocarbon mixture at a time, then the processing capacity is improved, but disturbance occurs due to convection and separation time increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveamount of nanocarbon mixtureVSAvoidseparation time

Core Design Contradiction:

Quantity of substanceVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The separation tank is divided into multiple independent separation chambers by partition walls. Each chamber operates as an independent unit with its own electrodes and porous structure, allowing simultaneous separation of multiple nanocarbon samples. This segmentation enables large-scale processing without increasing the diameter of individual chambers, thereby preventing convection disturbances while maintaining high processing capacity through parallel operation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

2Quantity of substance

If the diameter of the separation tank is increased to separate a large amount of nanocarbon mixture at a time, then the processing capacity is improved, but disturbance occurs due to convection

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveamount of nanocarbon mixtureVSAvoidseparation stability

Core Design Contradiction:

Quantity of substanceVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The separation tank is divided into multiple independent separation chambers by partition walls. Each chamber operates as an independent unit with its own electrodes and porous structure, allowing simultaneous separation of multiple nanocarbon samples. This segmentation enables large-scale processing without increasing the diameter of individual chambers, thereby preventing convection disturbances while maintaining high processing capacity through parallel operation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

A porous structure is placed between the electrodes in each separation chamber to inhibit horizontal flow of the dispersion liquid. The porous material creates a flow resistance that prevents convection currents from developing, ensuring stable separation conditions even in larger-scale operations. This allows the system to maintain separation stability while processing larger amounts of nanocarbon mixture through multiple parallel chambers.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #31Porous materials

3Device complexity

If conventional separation methods are used without porous structure, then the device complexity is reduced, but separation time is prolonged due to horizontal flow

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestructure simplicityVSAvoidseparation time

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

A porous structure is placed between the electrodes in each separation chamber to inhibit horizontal flow of the dispersion liquid. The porous material creates a flow resistance that prevents convection currents from developing, ensuring stable separation conditions even in larger-scale operations. This allows the system to maintain separation stability while processing larger amounts of nanocarbon mixture through multiple parallel chambers.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #31Porous materials

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 solution significantly reduces the time required for nanocarbon separation, allowing for the efficient recovery of highly pure metallic and semiconducting nanocarbons even in larger tank sizes by preventing horizontal flow and optimizing the separation process.

Implementation Method 1

a porous structure that is provided between the first electrode and the second electrode in the separation tank

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectFlow inhibition through porous structure: Filter (physical)

Implementation Method 2

separating the nanocarbon micelle groups into two or more nanocarbon micelle groups by applying a direct current voltage in a serial direction to the introduced, arranged and laminated dispersion liquid and holding solution

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElectrophoresis: Electrophoresis

Data Source

PatentUS11383983B2Nanocarbon separation device, nanocarbon separation method, nanocarbon recovery method

Publication Date: 2022.07.12 NEC CORP

AI summary

A nanocarbon separation device of the present invention includes a separation tank which is configured to accommodate a dispersion liquid including a nanocarbon, a first electrode that is provided at an upper part in the separation tank, a second electrode that is provided at a lower part in the separation tank, and a porous structure that is provided between the first electrode and the second electrode in the separation tank.